Visitors pass through the facial clearance under the guidance of customs officers. [Photo/Xiamen Daily]

The first batch of eligible passengers was able to pass through the facial clearance point under the guidance of customs officers on Nov 5 at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Xiamen Wutong Passenger Wharf, with each passenger clearing customs within just 10 seconds.

This convenience initiative stems from a unified deployment by the National Immigration Administration. The smart customs clearance applications have been implemented at 12 ports since Nov 5, including Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Xiamen Wutong Passenger Wharf, with eligibility expanded to Taiwan residents who hold a valid five-year Taiwan Compatriot Permit.

The customs officers at the ports patiently guide passengers with a variety of special needs, helping elderly people to use the facial recognition machines while explaining the steps to young people who are curious about the system. 

The new e-channels have adopted more advanced interactive screens, multi-angle cameras and finger scanners with high sensitivity, providing a more streamlined and pleasant clearance experience for passengers. Thirty-four e-channels at Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport and Xiamen Wutong Passenger Wharf have been upgraded with both functions of facial and identification recognition.