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Xiamen, a traffic hub in east China's Fujian Province, saw a record passenger flow in 2004, due to increased contacts between the Chinese mainland and other parts of the world.

Statistics from Xiamen Border Checkpoint showed more than 1.22 million people came in and out of China through Xiamen in 2004, a rise of 961,000, or 18.6 percent, over the figure a year ago.

The number of Chinese going abroad for personal reasons such as sightseeing, visits or family reunion has grown rapidly in each of the past few years, a customs official said. There were 350,000 such travelers in 2004, many of whom traveled to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan or the Republic of Korea.

Since a number of Chinese mainland cities began to implement the "Individual Visit Scheme" on Hong Kong and Macao-bound tours last July, residents of this coastal province have shown great enthusiasm for the simplified travel formalities.

Nineteen thousand people from the Chinese mainland went to or came from Hong Kong and Macao via Xiamen last year, doubling the 2003 figure.

Xiamen, a seaside resort with a thriving economy, hosted 465,000 foreign visitors last year, up 45 percent over 2003.