Lihuo Border Port in Fangchenggang, Guangxi

Lihuo Border Port (里火口岸) is located in Fangchenggang (防城港), Guangxi, and was approved as a border trade port for local residents in 1991. In 2017, the port was upgraded to a bilateral, year-round open road transport port for both passengers and freight. The port mainly handles the trade of seafood products such as frozen fish and shrimp from Vietnam (越南) and serves as a vital trade hub along the China-Vietnam border. As of 2016, approximately 3,000 border residents engage in trade daily, with an average daily income of 150 RMB. The port’s trade volume exceeded 22 billion RMB in 2015, and by November 2016, trade volume had increased by 70% year-on-year, reaching 6.5 billion RMB.

Key Facts

  • Location: Fangchenggang (防城港), Guangxi (广西)

  • Established: 1991

  • Port Type: Bilateral, year-round open road transport port

  • Main Products: Vietnamese seafood (frozen fish, frozen shrimp)

  • Daily Passengers: Approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people

  • Duty-Free Allowance: 8,000 RMB per person per day

History and Development

Early Years

Lihuo Border Port (里火口岸) officially opened in 1991, initially focusing on small-scale border trade. By 2017, with the upgrading of Dongzhong Port (峒中口岸) and the Lihuo passage to a Class I national port, the border became a key node for cross-border trade, capable of handling regular passenger and freight transport. By 2021, over a hundred trading companies were operating through the port, reflecting its growing significance in cross-border commerce.

Trade Development

In 2014, the total import and export volume at the port reached 1.0868 million tons, an increase of 20.27% compared to the previous year, with a trade value of 7.098 billion RMB (up 24.99%). By 2015, the border trade reached 22 billion RMB, growing by 16.9% year-on-year. By the first three quarters of 2016, the total border trade in Guangxi reached 38.27 billion RMB, with Lihuo making a significant contribution. On average, 3,000 border residents participated in trade daily, earning an average daily income of 150 RMB each.

The port primarily handles the import of frozen seafood products like frozen fish and shrimp from Vietnam, with over 800 vehicles daily transporting goods. The introduction of fingerprint-based, paperless clearance services allows border residents to enjoy duty-free benefits, with a maximum duty-free allowance of 8,000 RMB per person per day. By 2016, more than 5,000 border residents were registered for trade activities.

Infrastructure Development

Transportation and Facilities

The opening of the border highway in Guangxi in 2002 and the construction of National Highway 219 further accelerated the port’s circulation capacity. The development of supporting regulatory areas and information systems has allowed the cargo volume to increase more than 20-fold since the port’s early days. The upgrade of infrastructure has also directly created employment opportunities, with 3,000 border residents benefiting from daily trade activities.

Policy Support

Trade Policies

As part of the national “Enrich the Border” initiative, Lihuo Border Port (里火口岸) implements a border small-scale trade licensing system. In 2016, Guangxi lifted the restrictions on the origin of goods for cross-border trade, expanding the scope of beneficiaries to more border residents. The designation as a Class I national port also grants the port preferential policies, such as cross-border transportation and tax exemptions, which has helped create a poverty reduction model for border residents: “Trade drives employment, and employment boosts income.”

Lihuo Border Port (里火口岸) has become a key trading hub along the China-Vietnam border, promoting cross-border commerce and significantly contributing to the local economy. With its strategic location, thriving trade, and strong infrastructure, Lihuo continues to play a crucial role in the economic development of Guangxi (广西) and China’s southwestern regions. The port’s integration of advanced technologies and comprehensive policies offers a model for sustainable cross-border trade and economic cooperation in the region.