The Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) will officially launch island-wide special customs operations on December 18, 2025. This marks a landmark move by China to unswervingly expand high-level opening-up and promote the building of an open world economy.

Since the release of the Overall Plan for the Construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port in 2020, various policies and institutional arrangements have been rolled out intensively, and supporting infrastructure is largely in place. With the historic launch of special customs operations just around the corner, the FTP is fully prepared.

Smooth sailing at Yangpu Port as preparations near completion

An aerial view of Yangpu Port, where container vessels are berthing and containers are being loaded and unloaded efficiently.

In the northwest of Hainan Island at Yangpu Port’s Xiaochantan Terminal, several towering quay cranes are loading and unloading large container vessels. Down below, container trucks move steadily along their designated routes.

Often seen as the “showroom” of the FTP, Yangpu handles more than 70% of the island’s imported cargo. It serves not only as an essential shipping hub but also as a strategic gateway connecting global markets with China.

As the deadline for special customs operations approaches, preparatory work at the port is essentially complete. So far, Yangpu has conducted 78 rounds of scenario-based testing, ensuring readiness across all operational procedures.

Xinhai Port operating efficiently with smooth passenger and cargo flows

Located in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, Xinhai Port is the primary passenger ferry terminal for routes across the Qiongzhou Strait. It also serves as a second-line port under the FTP’s two-tier customs system.

As the launch of island-wide special customs operations approaches, the port continues to run smoothly, with vehicle flow in waiting areas remaining well-managed.

The port, which is a central supporting facility for the new two-tiered customs system, features 21 berths. It boasts an annual designed capacity of 35 million passenger trips and 5.6 million vehicle trips, making it the largest passenger roll-on/roll-off hub in China.

Meilan Airport enhances global connectivity, making travel more convenient

An aerial view of Haikou Meilan International Airport, showing multiple aircraft on the apron during peak operations.

Haikou Meilan International Airport now operates 241 domestic routes and over 40 international and regional routes. Since the beginning of the year, global and regional passenger throughput has exceeded 1.4 million passengers.

Special customs operations do not mean erecting barriers that make accessing Hainan more difficult. Except for certain goods entering the mainland from the FTP that will require inspection, most goods, along with all people, belongings, and vehicles, will continue to move in and out of the province under existing rules.

Guangdong–Hainan railway ferry ensures seamless cargo movement across the Qiongzhou Strait

A view of a Guangdong-Hainan Railway train being transported by ferry across the Qiongzhou Strait.

At Nangang Port, the southern terminal of the Guangdong–Hainan railway ferry, freight trains are being marshaled as they slowly roll onto ferries bound for Hainan. As the province’s only railway ferry port, the facility plays a vital role in maintaining cargo flow.

In May this year, the port’s upgraded second-line customs area was officially put into operation. The expansion increased its capacity four- to five-fold, enabling it to handle tens of thousands of tons of rail cargo per day, thereby enhancing its role as a crucial artery linking Hainan with the mainland.