BEIJING - The number of Chinese mainland residents going overseas reached 38.56 million in the first six months of the year, up 19.75 percent year-on-year, the Ministry of Public Security said Sunday.

The number of exit and entry across the Chinese border reached 208 million in the six months, up 6 percent from the same period of last year, according to a statement of the ministry's Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration.

The numbers of mainland residents, Hong Kong and Macao and Taiwan citizens, and foreigners crossing the border during the period was about 76.7 million, 105 million and 26.78 million, respectively, the statement said.

The first five destinations reached by mainland residents are Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan as well as the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Japan, it said.

The number of entries by foreigners was up nearly 4.6 percent year-on-year in the six months, most of whom came from the ROK, Japan, the United States, Russia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, the Philippines, Mongolia and Australia, according to the ministry.

Most of them crossed the Chinese border via airports in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, the statement said.

Police at the border found 1,337 persons involved in illegal entry or exit, discovered 24,200 persons violating exit and entry laws and regulations, and seized 343 alleged escaping persons during the first half of the year, the ministry said.