Shipping

As the closest place on the mainland to Taiwan, Pingtan has opened direct passenger and freight shipping routes to the island.

Cross-Straits residents can now commute between Pingtan and Taiwan by taking high-speed ferries on a daily basis.

Haixia and Lina are two of the main high-speed ferries shuttling between the two places.

Haixia, China's first high-speed passenger roller was made in Australia and cost about $40 million. The ship is 97.22 meters long, 26.6 meters wide and weighs 6,556 tons. It can operate at 43 knots.

Haixia, made in Australia, is China's first high-speed passenger roller. [Photo/VCG]

The first and second decks of the ship can take 260 small cars, and the third and fourth decks can carry 760 passengers.

The traveling time from Fujian's Pingtan to Taiwan's Taichung by Haixia is about three hours, and from Pingtan to Hsinchu about 90 minutes.

Lina is larger and better than Haixia and covers the route between Pingtan and Taipei on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Operating at 36 knots, Lina allows people to travel between Pingtan and Taipei in three hours.

Ticket price:

Between Pingtan and Taipei (one-way ticket/round-trip ticket for standard rooms)

On Fridays and Saturdays, Haixia covers the route, departing from Pingtan at 9 am and departing from Taipei at 2:30 pm.

On Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Lina covers the route, departing from Pingtan at 2:30 pm and departing from Taipei at 9 am.

Between Pingtan and Taichung (one-way ticket/round-trip ticket for standard rooms)

The route between Pingtan and Taichung operates on Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays. Ships depart from Pingtan at 9 am and from Taichung at 2:30 pm.

Rules for ticket changing and refunds

1.  Passengers who seek refunds on tickets 24 hours before departure time can get 100 yuan back for a one-way ticket or one of the round-trip tickets and 200 yuan for a round-trip ticket. Tickets cannot be refunded within 24 hours before departure.

2.  Tickets can be changed once for free (only for upgrading class and rescheduling) 24 hours before departure.