Cross-Straits TransportationCross-Straits Transportation 

One of the most anticipated developments of the past two decades, direct cross-Strait sea and air transportation links between Taiwan and China have continued to rapidly grow since being initiated in stages during 2008 and 2009. This restoration of direct transportation--largely nonexistent over the past half century--has had mainly-beneficial economic and business effects for Taichung, as central Taiwan's close proximity to China and key cities such as Xiamen and Shanghai puts it in an ideal geographical position to capitalize on air and sea links. For this reason, a number of local and foreign companies are showing renewed interest in Taichung and Taiwan in general as a destination for business and investment.

Both Taichung's sea and air facilities have seen an upsurge in traffic from these links. Taichung Port is expected to play a key role in direct links with China, given its enormous area, unused space, free trade zones and central geographical location in central Taiwan, within 135 nautical miles of the mainland. In addition to an upsurge in cargo-related business, the harbor is also seeing significant growth in passenger traffic, thanks to visits by cruise ships carrying Chinese tourists and direct ferry services to the mainland.

At the same time, Taichung Airport has become one of Taiwan's fastest-growing air facilities with direct regular flights by Taiwanes and Chinese airlines carrying business travelers and tourist to and from a wide range of mainland cities such as Shanghai, Xiamen, Nanjing, Wuhan, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Shenyang.