Travelers line up for security check at Ningbo Lishe International Airport. [Photo/Tide News]

At Ningbo Lishe International Airport in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, Jiang Yichen, who became the one-millionth cross-border traveler to pass through the airport this year, received a commemorative gift in the departure hall.

As of Nov 12, the Ningbo Airport Border Inspection Station had reported that travelers entering and exiting through the airport surpassed one million, representing an 18.68 percent increase year-on-year and marking the first time in six years that the airport's annual cross-border traffic has exceeded one million.

The airport also handled more than 8,472 international flights, a year-on-year growth of approximately 2.6 percent. Ningbo currently offers 12 international routes connecting to regions such as Central and Eastern Europe, East Asia, and Southeast Asia.

The airport's cross-border traffic exhibited two main trends. First, there was a strong demand for outbound tourism among mainland residents, with over 378,000 departures, a 19.65 percent increase. Sightseeing and vacations accounted for 52 percent of these trips, with family and student group tours leading the market.

Second, the number of foreign arrivals and visa-free entries has reached record highs. Over 34,700 foreigners entered, up 38.2 percent, with 13,800 using visa-free entry, a 192 percent increase. Japan, India, the United States, Malaysia, and the Philippines are the top source countries.

To manage increased traffic, the airport has implemented enhanced security and efficiency measures, including traffic monitoring, multilingual services, and smart border inspection systems.