Residents from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan who have lived on the Chinese mainland for longer than six months can apply for a new mainland residence permit starting from September, according to an announcement by the State Council Information Office earlier this month. 

On Sept 1, offices in Guangzhou providing mainland residence permits issuance services were flocked with applicants.

Su Yifang, general manager of jewelry company Guangzhou Shitouji Decorations became the first Taiwan resident that applied for Mainland Residence Permit. 

"With the residence permit, I will not have to line up for half an hour to get the high-speed railway tickets at the ticketing window. I can now buy them online."

The permit can be read automatically at electronic terminal devices in places such as railway stations, airports and banks and is expected to smooth the process of living, working and studying on the Chinese mainland.

Su from Taiwan displays the receipt for the residence permit at license transact center of Huadu branch of Guangzhou municipal public security bureau in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province on Sept 1. [Photo/Nanfang Plus]