On the afternoon of August 6th at 3 PM, a long queue formed at the international departure hall of Yiwu Airport. Travelers were checking in for flight UO213, with many heading to the waiting lounge. Isabel, a traveler from Mexico wearing a Chinese-style silk scarf, was accompanied by four companions, each pulling a large suitcase. They have been engaged in cosmetics trade in Yiwu for five years, returning to Mexico every three months. Over the past year, they have departed from Yiwu Airport, transiting through Hong Kong.
Half an hour later, flight UO212 from Hong Kong landed on time, with 168 passengers disembarking, including 18 foreign nationals. The international travel momentum at Yiwu Airport during the summer peak season was evident. As of August 13th, the airport's cross-border passenger flow surpassed 34,000 this year, exceeding the total of 26,000 for the entire previous year in just over half a year. During the summer season, growth accelerated further, with international passenger traffic exceeding 4,800 in July, a year-on-year increase of 68.8%.
Behind this impressive performance, Yiwu Airport has focused on its role as the world's capital of small commodities, continuously enhancing route frequencies, customs clearance support, and service quality to broaden this air corridor.
Where to begin
The UO213 flight, operating four times weekly, added Yiwu as a new destination in May of last year. After more than a year of stable operations, it has built a loyal customer base and now truly lives up to its reputation as an airbus. The Airbus A320, with 180 seats, carried 168 departing passengers, achieving a load factor of 93.33%.
This air route continues to expand. In December 2025, the Yiwu-Hong Kong route was increased to four weekly flights. Since the start of this summer season, flights between Yiwu and Hong Kong have been nearly full, with 30 to 40 foreign passengers per flight hailing from countries including the United States, Mexico, Uganda, and India. Travel demand is diversifying from pure trade and procurement to tourism, family visits, and cultural experiences, reflecting Yiwu's growing global influence as the world's supermarket. This peak in passenger flow is expected to continue throughout the summer season.
Two key policies easing entry barriers
The surge in passenger numbers is driven by the release of policy benefits. At the end of 2024, the National Immigration Administration fully relaxed and optimized the visa-free transit policy, extending the stay for eligible foreign travelers to 240 hours and adding Yiwu Airport to the list of designated ports, significantly lowering the threshold for foreign visitors. On July 16th of this year, Yiwu Airport issued its first batch of port visas, allowing foreign travelers to complete visa and entry procedures in just half an hour at the airport's visa window. This measure complements the 240-hour visa-free transit policy, catering to short-term transit visitors and addressing urgent needs for dedicated trips. Together, they remove barriers and enhance the convenience of international travel.
Comprehensive services for global traffic
Facing the influx of international arrivals, Yiwu Airport adheres to the principle of genuine service, offering a complete chain of services to manage this international flow. During the summer season, the airport collaborates with Yiwu immigration inspection authorities to implement tailored policies for each route and flight. This includes predicting passenger volumes, allocating support resources, adding bilingual guides for foreign groups and families, setting up dedicated lanes for visa-free travelers, and launching a multilingual electronic entry declaration system to boost clearance efficiency. Supporting services include a first-stop consultation point for arriving passengers, payment facilitation zones for foreigners, and departure tax refund services, creating a fully integrated convenience system.
Additionally, leveraging Yiwu's hosting of the first CCTV Spring Festival Gala sub-venue in Zhejiang, the airport launched the "Follow the Spring Festival Gala to Tour Yiwu" campaign. Working with cultural tourism departments and local merchants, it has enriched consumer scenarios and expanded the supply of quality goods and services, deepening the integration of aviation, culture, commerce, and tourism. This ensures that foreign visitors immediately experience the city's unique charm upon arrival.
Looking ahead, Yiwu Airport will continue optimizing its international route network and improving port services. With more efficient clearance experiences and superior end-to-end services, it aims to inject strong aviation momentum into Zhejiang Airport Group's vision of building a world-class modern aviation hub and Yiwu's ambition to become a model of Chinese-style modernization at the county level.