A total of 5,753 residents of Pingtan county, China's first pilot zone to open to Taiwan, have visited Taiwan as solo tourists in the past one and a half years, according to local exit-entry administration authorities.

As of the end of 2013, Taiwan has given the green light to independent travelers from 26 cities in the Chinese mainland - including from Pingtan starting in August 2012.

The authorities said that the application process has been simplified, as tourists are now only required to obtain a special travel permit as well as an entry permit for Taiwan.

There are four travel agencies in Pingtan which are authorized to issue Taiwan entry permits: the Pingtan branch of the Fujian Tourist Company, Pingtan branch of China Travel Service, Pingtan branch of Fujian Overseas Tourist Enterprise Corp and the Pingtan branch of the Fujian Comfort International Travel Agency.

The four companies have been busy with Taiwan tours business since day one, reported the Pingtan Times.

The Fujian Tourist Company said a significant number of tourists will consult and do with individual Taiwan tours every month.

A manager of the Fujian Overseas Tourist Enterprise Corp revealed that as Feb 21, more than 20 tourists have applied Taiwan entry permits from the company.

"Pingtan and Taiwan have always maintained close ties. Many relatives and friends of Pingtan residents live in Taiwan. After the opening of the Pingtan-Taichung and Pingtan-Taipei marine routes, cross-Straits travel has become easier and more affordable for ordinary people," said Li Zongyuan, manager of the Pingtan office of China Travel Service, adding that the company applied for entry permits for more than 40 local residents ahead of the Spring Festival.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman