Taiwan students join mainland peers in Qingdao for sailing exchange

Four hundred youths from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan gathered in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Monday for a cross-Strait exchange event featuring sailing activities aimed at fostering friendship and mutual understanding.

The participants sailed across the city's picturesque Fushan Bay, taking in its scenic coastline and modern skyline. They also visited the Olympic museum, experienced virtual reality sailing simulators, and watched a musical showcasing China's thousands of years of maritime heritage.

The event also featured a food festival that brought a variety of Taiwan specialties to Qingdao, giving locals an opportunity to experience the island's culinary culture.

Among the participants was Wang Chun-Hsiung, a 21-year-old student at Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, who was visiting the mainland for the first time.

"The boat trip allowed us to appreciate both Qingdao's European-style architecture and its modern buildings," Wang said. "I was also impressed by the city's well-developed transportation infrastructure."

Chuang Po-Chung, a professor from Chinese Culture University in Taiwan, also joined the event and praised the hospitality of people in Shandong. "Sailing and marine culture are shared cultural memories across the Taiwan Strait," he said. "I hope young people from Taiwan will bring back to the island their genuine and vivid experiences here."

Organizers said efforts would be made to continue hosting regular cross-Strait youth exchange programs featuring sailing, marine culture, sports, and tourism, while creating more platforms and opportunities for young people from Qingdao and Taiwan to interact and strengthen their bonds.