Shanghai residents can apply for group and individual tours to Kinmen and Matsu starting April 29, the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Culture and Tourism said Wednesday.

Residents who intend to visit Kinmen and Matsu may register with qualified travel agencies in Shanghai and southeast China's Fujian Province, and apply to the local exit-entry administration authorities for travel endorsements.

Kinmen and Matsu are groups of islands just off the Chinese mainland's southeastern coast. Kinmen is only 10 kilometers east from Xiamen in Fujian Province, popular for cross-Strait travel and exchange.

Earlier this month, the Chinese mainland rolled out a package of 10 policies and measures, aimed at boosting exchanges and cooperation with the Taiwan region.

On infrastructure, the mainland authorities encourage coastal cities in Fujian Province to step up links with Kinmen and Matsu, sharing water, electricity and gas supplies, and promote the construction of sea-crossing bridges linking the two areas when conditions permit.

Cross-Strait tourism exchanges have picked up in recent years. Previously, applications for permits for Fujian residents to visit Kinmen resumed in September 2024.

(With input from Xinhua)