A travel boom among Taiwan residents heading to the Chinese mainland is in full swing during the October holidays, despite the island's authorities refusing to lift restrictions on group tours.

This month, Taiwan residents enjoyed two closely spaced short holidays, prompting many to extend their breaks and head out on trips.

At Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport, long lines formed at check-in counters as travelers carrying large suitcases prepared to board flights. The airport estimated that passenger travel between October 3 and 11 would reach 1.51 million.

The mainland remains one of the most popular destinations for Taiwan residents. Statistics from the island's transport department showed that in the first half of this year, more than 1.5 million Taiwan residents traveled to the mainland, underscoring the strong demand despite the so-called "level-orange alert" for Taiwan travelers to the mainland and the continued ban on group tours to the mainland imposed by the island's authorities.

From exploring traditional culture in Beijing's museums to admiring the peaks and rivers of Zhangjiajie in central China's Hunan Province, from tasting street food in the bustling night markets of Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province to experiencing the futuristic skyline of Shenzhen in Guangdong Province, Taiwan visitors have been seizing the chance to discover the mainland's diverse attractions during the holidays.

At the Taoyuan Airport, a Taipei resident surnamed Hsu and her two friends were about to embark on a five-day trip to eastern Chinese megacity of Shanghai, Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province and Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province. Having visited Xiamen and Fuzhou in southeast China's Fujian Province last year, she emphasized how impressed she was by the convenience of traveling on the mainland.

With the help of her mainland friends, she downloaded mobile apps such as WeChat and Alipay to pay for transport, meals and other expenses. "Just a few clicks on the phone, and everything is done. It's very easy," she said.

The mainland has introduced multiple measures to make visits more convenient for Taiwan compatriots. Taiwan residents holding mainland travel permits can enter the mainland without additional endorsements. Additionally, Taiwan phone numbers and bank cards can be linked to mobile payment apps such as Alipay and WeChat Pay.

As experiences improve, Taiwan residents are setting their sights on more diverse destinations. Travel industry insiders have noted that while Fujian and major coastal cities used to dominate itineraries, an increasing number of Taiwan tourists are now venturing further inland for in-depth experiences.

(With input from Xinhua)