Recent days have seen a run of arrivals of international ocean liners at Shanghai. [Photo/Shanghai Observer]

The Wusongkou International Cruise Liner Terminal in East China's Shanghai had a watershed moment on April 6, when the ocean liner Mein Schiff 5 – hosting the largest single group of overseas passengers since the resumption of inbound tourism in the country – docked there.

In the wake of that arrival, on the afternoon of April 7, another ocean liner – the Silver Shadow – moored at the terminal, adding to the frenetic scene.

Shanghai Customs is reporting a strong resurgence in international cruise activities since last year, with the Wusongkou International Cruise Liner Terminal bustling yet again.

Most notably, the first quarter of this year saw 69 inbound and outbound international cruise ships in Shanghai carrying a total of 210,000 passengers. This represents hefty 3.3-fold and 15.1-fold increases, respectively, compared with the fourth quarter of 2023.

Among the highlights was the Adora Magic City – the first domestically produced large cruise ship – which completed 41 inbound and outbound trips during the period, carrying 154,000 passengers.

Additionally, ships like the Mein Schiff 5 made 19 port visits in Q1, accommodating 22,000 passengers, constituting 10.5 percent of the total cruise passenger count.

This resurgence is said to point to a very promising recovery indeed for Shanghai's international cruise industry, marking a return to its vibrant pre-pandemic state.