Pingtan county issued 10,000 entry permits for Taiwan residents over the past two years, the local police said on Jan 22.

Lu Nailang became the 10,000th Taiwan resident to receive a mainland entry permit in Pingtan on Jan 22. He was rewarded with a ticket back to Taiwan and a boutique.

Jiang Anhai, an official with the local entry-exit management bureau, said they handled 6,138 visa applications in 2013, a year on year increase of 66.6 percent.

During the Spring Festival holiday, the bureau handled 931 visa applications, marking a year on year increase of 570 percent.

“The endorsement number will climb up drastically during the upcoming Spring Festival. We will improve our service and gear up for the frenzy,” said Jiang.

Jiang said that Taiwan residents can also make their applications aboard Haixia, a high-speed ferry sailing between Pingtan and Taiwan. The photography service is also offered on the ship in order to shorten the whole approval process, said Jiang.

“Previously we had to resort to travel agencies for the visa endorsement. Now we can do it in Pingtan, which is convenient. It saves lots of time when you can finish the blank-fillings on ship,” said Lu.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman