Tianbao Border Port in Wenshan, Yunnan

Tianbao Border Port (天保口岸) is an important land passage connecting Yunnan Province (云南) to Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Located in the southern part of Malipo County (麻栗坡县) at the foot of Laoshan Mountain (老山), Tianbao is adjacent to Vietnam’s Qing Shui River Port (清水河口岸) in Ha Giang Province (河江省). It serves as one of the most direct and shortest land routes from Yunnan to Hanoi, Vietnam.

Location: Tianbao Town, Malipo County, Wenshan Zhuang and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province

Significance: One of the primary land routes from Yunnan to Vietnam, providing direct access to Hanoi (河内) and other Southeast Asian countries.

Distance: 40 km from Malipo County, 120 km from Wenshan (文山), and 420 km from Kunming (昆明); 24 km from Ha Giang (河江) and 340 km from Hanoi.

Historical Background

Key Events

Tianbao Border Port was formally established in 1993 as a Category I port, receiving approval from the State Council. Since its opening, it has been a major gateway for bilateral economic exchanges between China and Vietnam. The port’s infrastructure has been consistently upgraded, and by August 2024, the international freight terminal was operational, significantly enhancing clearance capacity.

Milestones:

1954: Tianbao was designated as a trading port for China-Vietnam commerce.

1993: The port was officially recognized as a Category I international border port by the State Council.

1998: Vehicle traffic between Wenshan (文山) and Ha Giang (河江) was made possible, facilitating easier cross-border trade and tourism.

2024: The international cargo terminal opened, boosting trade volumes to new heights.

Core Functions and Facilities

Freight Clearance Channel

Technological Upgrades: The port utilizes an advanced regulatory model combining both on-site customs inspection and digital monitoring. This has reduced the clearance time for trucks by 50%, while the efficiency for cold-chain container handling has improved to 10 minutes per container.

Main Trade Goods: Key imports include durians (榴莲) and dragon fruit from Vietnam, while exports consist of highland vegetables and electromechanical products from Yunnan.

Passenger Clearance Channel

Facilities: The passenger clearance area is open 24 hours, equipped with intelligent gates for health declarations and temperature checks. The average processing time per passenger is 5 seconds.

Peak Season: During the summer of 2025, cross-border tourism is expected to increase, especially with attractions like Detian Waterfall (德天瀑布) nearby.

Transportation and Connectivity

Road Network

Tianbao is well-connected by road, located 34 km from Malipo County and linked directly to Vietnam’s National Route 2. The ongoing construction of the Long’an to Shoulong Expressway (隆安至硕龙高速) will further enhance connectivity.

Nearby Amenities

Border Trade Market: Open from 7:15 AM to 10:30 PM, offering a duty-free allowance of 8,000 RMB per person per day. Popular goods include Vietnamese coffee and rubber shoes.

International Cargo Terminal: The facility integrates bonded warehouses and a cold-chain inspection center, providing full-service logistics, including customs clearance and processing.

Policy Updates

Cross-Border Cooperation

Tianbao Border Port is pivotal in fostering Sino-Vietnamese trade. The “green channel” for fresh agricultural products ensures that perishable goods can be inspected and released immediately.

Regional Cooperation

Ongoing efforts to expand the China-Vietnam Economic and Trade Fair will enhance trade relations and promote regional logistics cooperation within the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Zone.

Practical Information

Customs Hours

Freight: Available 24/7

Passenger: 08:30 AM to 05:30 PM (with plans to extend hours until 08:00 PM)

Contact Information

Tianbao Customs: (0876-3011234)

Tianbao Border Inspection Station: (0876-8810664)

For the latest updates, visit the Wenshan Prefecture government website or follow the official Tianbao Border Port WeChat account.

Development and Future Prospects

Infrastructure and Growth

The construction of a comprehensive transportation network, including road, rail, air, and sea connections, is helping Tianbao emerge as a key international transit hub. By linking various transport modes, Tianbao is set to become an integral part of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area.

Expansion Plans

The local government is working on enhancing the port’s infrastructure, expanding its functional zones, and improving soft and hard infrastructure. Future plans include expanding the border trade zone and increasing overall capacity to support the growing volume of trade and tourism between China and Southeast Asia.

Tianbao Border Port plays a crucial role in connecting China to Southeast Asia and is poised to strengthen trade, tourism, and cultural exchange in the coming years. With significant infrastructure upgrades and increasing cross-border cooperation, the port will continue to be a central player in China’s trade and diplomatic relations with Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations.