Shanghai Pudong International Airport's route network connects to over 50 countries and regions worldwide. In 2025, the port's total entry-exit passenger volume surpassed 36.5 million, accounting for one-quarter of all passengers inspected at the nation's airport border inspection stations, firmly ranking first among national air ports. This year, as of August 20, the Pudong airport port's cumulative entry-exit passenger volume has exceeded 23 million, with inbound foreign nationals up 21% compared to the same period last year.
Recently, reporters joined the "Searching for the Most Beautiful National Gateway" activity tour group at Shanghai Pudong International Airport to learn how the Shanghai Airport Border Inspection Station converts the massive passenger "flow" into tangible economic "increment." Facing sustained high-level passenger traffic, how does the port ensure "smooth passage"? The Shanghai Airport Border Inspection Station's answer is: streamlined systems ensure unimpeded flow.
Since 2026, the Shanghai Airport Border Inspection Station has been fully committed to building the "Five Mechanisms" for ensuring smooth passage of large inbound passenger flows, enhancing port clearance efficiency. For example, it has established a "Digital Intelligence Training Center" that simulates various inspection scenarios and conducts AI-based practical training using big data models, comprehensively improving individual officer inspection efficiency and detection capabilities. Additionally, in terms of lane usage, by upgrading the functionality of fast-track lanes and promoting the implementation of the new "buffer relay" model, the clearance efficiency of fast-track lanes has been increased by one-third.
Through this integrated set of clearance-smoothing measures, the Shanghai Airport Border Inspection Station has fulfilled its commitment of "safer security, faster clearance, and more efficient service" at a large air port during peak passenger flow tests.
Efficiency brings business opportunities. The dividends of efficient clearance are continuously being transformed into growth in convention and exhibition economy and business economy. This year, multiple international exhibitions have been held in Shanghai, including the 2026 Appliance & Electronics World Expo and the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. During these exhibitions, the daily number of inbound foreign nationals at Shanghai Pudong International Airport port exceeded 20,000 on many days, peaking at 25,000. The integrated clearance-smoothing measures have kept the waiting time for foreign nationals' entry inspection stable within 30 minutes, proving highly effective during peak passenger flow tests.
Yang Ming, Director of the Border Inspection Division at the Shanghai Airport Border Inspection Station, introduced that converting the "flow" of inbound passengers into "increment" for new economic formats mainly involves three types, one of which is the exhibition economy. "Exhibitions are a calling card of Shanghai's opening-up. Every year, thousands of exhibitions of various sizes, including the China International Import Expo, attract millions of foreign nationals to China for exhibitions and business negotiations. Taking the Shanghai Auto Show as an example, a single auto show can attract over 60,000 visitors from nearly a hundred countries and regions to participate or observe." Yang Ming stated, "We proactively coordinate with organizers of major exhibitions and sporting events, grasping the specific event times and the scale of foreign participants in advance, making preparations for clearance support, and actively showcasing the most beautiful national gateway to these foreign visitors."
The second type of new economic format is the weekend economy. Yang Ming explained that the unilateral visa-free policy is allowing more residents from neighboring countries to choose to embark on a spontaneous trip to China on weekends. "They often make Shanghai the first stop of their China trip. During peak passenger flow periods, we strengthen police deployment, dynamically adjust the layout of waiting areas, and promptly open additional inspection lanes to save precious time for these travelers."
"We also actively serve the transit economy." Yang Ming introduced that within the permitted stay areas and time limits under the policy, through innovative implementation of an advance declaration and pre-review system for transit passengers and pioneering the implementation of joint processing measures for transit entry passengers, the inspection and issuance efficiency for a single transit passenger at the Pudong airport port has now nearly doubled. "This gives those who were originally just passing through more opportunities to experience the city of Shanghai."
Shanghai International Airport Co., Ltd. (SH: 600009)
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