The provincial authorities will draw up a development plan to integrate Pingtan's tourism resources and highlight cooperation with Taiwan's travel agencies.

Pingtan will work with Taiwan to open a new marine travel route between Pingtan and Taipei in addition to the current and only one between Pingtan and Taichung.

The local government will set up a large shopping mall, a yacht club and a Taiwan food court to attract more tourists to enjoy tax-free shopping.

A comprehensive tourist distribution hub integrating tourism resource publications, travel agencies, tax-free products, and Fujian and Taiwan food catering will also be built.

Pingtan will also enhance communication on tourism with Taichung and Hsinchu in Taiwan to open more tourism routes.

Only 68 nautical miles from Taiwan, Pingtan is the closest place to Taiwan on the Chinese mainland. A range of favorable policies aimed at boosting cross-Straits communication and cooperation have been made by central and provincial authorities since 2011. At that time the State Council, or China's cabinet, approved a general development plan for Pingtan, ordering the construction of a common homeland for people across the Straits.

Starting in August, people who make purchases below 6,000 yuan ($979) at the petty trade market in Pingtan are exempt from taxes, according to a notice issued by the General Administration of Customs.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Micheal Thai