Shanghai, Tianjin raise the sail

Fireworks, drum beats and lion dances bid a colorful goodbye to two giant vessels that left Shanghai for Kaohsiung in Taiwan at 10:45 am yesterday, the first direct cross-Straits journey in almost 60 years.

Fifteen minutes after that, the Xin Yan Tai left Tianjin for Keelung. The China Shipping Group ship could have become the first vessel to set sail on the historic journey because it was scheduled to depart at 9:38 am but could not because of technical reasons.

"The first direct voyage across the Straits starts," declared Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng at Yangshan Deepwater Port.