Milestones in cross-Straits links

After the State Council included the Western Straits Economic Zone program in its national development plan last year, Fujian's ties with Taiwan on the eastern side of the Straits have grown even stronger.

A big breakthrough came with direct transport and tourism links between Fujian and Taiwan - whose residents have the same dialect and cultures - that have increased people-to-people exchanges after more than half a century of separation.

Direct shipping, air transport and postal service between the two sides started in late 2008. Direct tourism brought ships sailing the narrow Straits only began in May last year.

May 15, 2009

On May 15, 2009 the Ocean Lala passenger ferry carrying 350 followers of Mazu, the traditional goddess of the sea in southeastern coastal regions of China, arrived on Meizhou Island in Fujian, the first time in more than 60 years adherents were able to travel directly from Taichung to Meizhou, the home of Mazu.

The group of worshippers from Taiwan joined 2,000 from the mainland to pray and offers sacrifices.

Taiwanese followers brought four smaller Mazu statues to the main temple in Meizhou and placed them near a big golden statue of the goddess to signify the reunion of worshippers from both sides of the Straits.

"I always go to Mazu when I encounter difficulties in my life. I found it very helpful when praying with faith," said a worshipper surnamed Du from Taipei.

Cheng Ming-kun, who led the group, said "the trip is historic - this nonstop route is very beneficial for the communication of religious cultures between Taiwan and the mainland".

Worshippers from Taiwan began to journey to Meizhou via Hong Kong some 10 years ago on airplanes or ships. The island has since welcomed more than 1.4 million tourists from both sides of the Straits, most of them Mazu pilgrims

July 13, 2009

Visiting Taiwan - long isolated from the motherland - is the dream of many people on the mainland.

As he arrived at Mawei Harbor in Fuzhou on July 13, 2009 to wait for the mainland's first passenger liner to Taiwan, Liang Yi, a 70-year-old visitor from Fujian, said he was "very happy to have a chance to visit Taiwan in my lifetime".

The Xinjinqiao II ferry with 630 passengers then left Mawei for Keelung in Taiwan. Acting Fuzhou Mayor Su Zengtian witnessed the historic moment by presiding over a ceremony to inaugurate the passenger line.

The Xinjinqiao II is 186.5 m long and 24.8 m wide, and has a capacity to accommodate 731 passengers. Its operator says its facilities and services meet five-star standard.

Zhang Guocheng, a tourist who visited Taiwan for the first time, said "with a direct line we save a lot of time and money".

The organized tour lasted six days, and covered Keelung, Taipei, Sun-Moon Lake, A-li Mountain, Puli, Chiayi, Kaohsiung and Jinmen.

(China Daily 05/27/2010 page17)