Better connections and easier access mean bigger profits

The province now enjoys such close ties with Taiwan that there were about 5 million people shuttling between the two by the end of last month.

That meant more than 2.15 million Taiwanese heading to Shandong, and 2.76 million Shandong natives headed the other way for business exchanges and cultural activities.

The easier access and better connections between the two mean profits in a big way, especially thanks to regular direct flights in recent years linking Taiwan with Qingdao, Jinan and Yantai, three of the province's major cities.