The first opening under the three small links was to allow religious pilgrims to go to Fujian Province directly from the mainland. On January 2, the first group left to much fanfare, with expectations that these new ties would bring all kinds of exchanges and economic opportunities.
小三通由馬祖以媽祖進香的宗教直航方式拔得頭籌，元月二日的鑼鼓震天，似乎商機、交流在望。