A staff member of the all-female team assists a passenger. [Xie Hao/chinadaily.com.cn]

For passengers arriving on international flights in Qingdao, the coastal metropolis of East China's Shandong province, the first people they come face to face are female border police officers.

The all-female passenger inspection team was founded in 2002 to provide global tourists with a better first impression of the city. Composed of 18 women, with an average age of 28, they provide border-checking services in a friendly and effective way. At the same time, the female team is playing a major role in protecting national security.

For 16 years, they have caught more than 400 criminals involved in some 200 extradition cases and over 700 offenders, saving the state nearly 100 million yuan ($15.76 million) in potential losses, officials said.

The team has won over 30 awards, including national-level “March 8th Red Banner Pacesetter”, one of the highest honors for women for their excellent work achievement.