A recent flight from Budapest, Hungary, landed at Ningbo Lishe International Airport. Ms. Zhang, a passenger on the flight, quickly located her luggage on the baggage claim belt and followed the designated path to exit the customs area, continuing her onward domestic journey.
This seamless customs clearance experience was made possible by the "Smart Travel Inspection" system developed by Ningbo Airport Customs, a branch of Ningbo Customs. Leveraging remote image analysis and RFID technology, the system discreetly identifies high-risk baggage. This is complemented by the use of "Smart +" 5G travel inspection tablets, creating an intelligent, integrated supervision model that features "comprehensive judgment with the front camera and precise inspection with the rear camera." This significantly enhances customs clearance efficiency for passengers and strengthens the Customs' ability to safeguard national security.
At the entry point, Ningbo Airport Customs has established a "nine-in-one" health and quarantine channel centered around the "Airport Passenger Quarantine Supervision System." This streamlined process integrates nine functions, including temperature screening and information verification, allowing passengers to pass through directly if no anomalies are detected. During departure, when passengers check in their luggage at the counter, the baggage undergoes a simultaneous "security check and customs" inspection via X-ray scanning. This ensures that luggage is processed only once for inspection.
"In the first four months of this year, despite a 1.9-fold and 2.1-fold increase in the number of inbound and outbound flights and passengers, respectively, to 1,878 flights and 240,000 passengers, the average customs clearance time has been reduced by 30%," said Yao Yubin, head of the third department of Ningbo Airport Customs' Passenger Inspection Division. This enhanced efficiency is attributed to the adoption of advanced intelligent equipment, establishing a new mechanism for on-site supervision that is covert, non-invasive, and seamlessly integrated.
As cross-border tourism and business activities become increasingly frequent, Ningbo Lishe International Airport, with its steadily growing flight volume and passenger throughput, has not only become a shining emblem of the city but also a powerful engine for regional economic development. In recent years, Ningbo Airport Customs has successfully provided high-quality support for major events such as the China-CEEC Expo, the Hangzhou Asian Games, and the Badminton Asia Championships 2024, allowing travelers from around the world to experience the "smart power" and tangible convenience of customs clearance upon arrival in Ningbo. Furthermore, Ningbo Airport Customs has been actively leveraging technology, focusing on "small terminals, big services," to continuously accelerate the development of Ningbo's civil aviation industry and ensure the smooth operation of international passenger routes.
As inbound and outbound routes continue to increase, the demand for regulatory efficiency and specialized enforcement is also growing. In response, Ningbo Airport Customs has initiated the construction of a "smart image analysis center," consolidating carry-on and checked baggage image analysis equipment. The system's algorithm database is regularly updated to enable the rapid identification and early warning of prohibited items, including excessive quantities of goods, endangered plants and animals and their products, and narcotics, further strengthening the ability to safeguard national security.
"We will continue to advance the 'Smart Customs to Strengthen China' Initiative, increase the intensity of technological empowerment, and innovate our systems for better integration. By teaming up with various port departments, we will further strengthen 'low-intervention, high-efficiency' regulation and streamline customs processes for quicker and smoother entry and exit. Our goal is to strike a balance between safety and convenience for travelers." remarked Chen Huan, Deputy Director of Ningbo Airport Customs.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of zhong guo guo men shi bao. The Chinese version of zhong guo guo men shi bao shall prevail.