An employee at a seafood trading company displays a king crab in Hunchun, Jilin province. [Photo/China Daily]

In Northeast China's Jilin province, Yanbian's momentum in opening up is accelerating, powered by a surge in cross-border trade and a new level of customs efficiency that keeps energy, seafood, and consumer goods moving with precision.

In Hunchun, rising energy demand across Northeast China has made the city a vital gateway for Russian liquefied gas. From January to October this year, Hunchun customs supervised 260,000 metric tons of imported liquefied petroleum gas, a 2.2-fold increase, supported by streamlined procedures and targeted guidance for hazardous goods.

The same border advantage is reshaping the seafood trade. This year, Hunchun customs handled 21,000 tons of live crabs and other aquatic products – a 3 percent rise that reinforces the city's role as a main entry point for Russian king crab.

With freshness measured in minutes, Hunchun introduced a dedicated green channel for live seafood, offering round-the-clock appointment clearance and priority inspection. Streamlined customs procedures have significantly reduced waiting times, enabling king crabs from the border to reach Beijing tables in as little as eight hours.

In Yanji, cross-border e-commerce is reshaping consumer access to global goods. From January to November, the Yanji Bonded Logistics Center reported a 32.42 percent jump in transaction volume, driven by a smart regulatory system centered on data analysis, automated release, and full-chain traceability. The rise of offline experience stores supported by customs has amplified the city's tourism appeal and created a new consumption hub where visitors can browse Korean beauty products and specialty foods before ordering them online.

The dried cod exports from Yanji Yongzhen Food Co reached 675.49 tons this year, up 16.7 percent. With processing windows tightly bound to weather, the timely arrival of frozen raw fish is critical. Customs officers provide appointment-based inspection services during peak season, ensuring raw materials are checked immediately upon arrival and allowing production to start without delay.

From border energy corridors to e-commerce hubs and traditional fish-drying grounds, Yanbian's opening up is unfolding through real efficiency and tangible results anchored by customs innovations.