CHENGDU, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) — From the snow-covered northeast to the still-green southwest, a delegation of younger individuals from Taiwan embraced the enjoyment of snow and ice, explored relics and museums, and skilled firsthand the vastness and variety of the motherland.
Despite the “icy and snowy” exterior setting, exchanges between younger individuals throughout the Strait are pleasant and heat, which may soften even the toughest “ice and snow,” stated Ma Ying-jeou, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang.
Ma made the remarks in Harbin, the “City of Ice” in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, through the first leg of their journey to the mainland from Dec. 18 to 26. This marks Ma’s third journey to the mainland previously two years. His final go to was made in April.
In Harbin, these younger individuals from the subtropical island carved extra “bricks” for a snow sculpture of the Great Wall at an artwork expo and tried their hand at numerous ice and snow rides. They have been thrilled at seeing ice sculptures modeled after the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and Taipei 101, a landmark skyscraper in Taipei.
“The temperature in Harbin is around 10 degrees Celsius below zero, but our hearts are warm,” stated Lin Pei-chen from the Taiwan Ocean University. “We had snowball fights, posed for pictures in the snow, and had no intention of heading back indoors.”
On Dec. 20, the delegation visited the Unit 731 Museum, the place they realized about how the Japanese military carried out germ warfare and human experiments throughout their aggression in opposition to China within the first half of the final century.
“Looking ahead, young people across the Strait should bear history in mind and stay vigilant,” stated Tai Chih-ying from Taipei University, who struggled to seek out peace of thoughts after the museum go to.
“We should learn from history and ensure the generation of youngsters knows the past and receives adequate history education. This is the responsibility of our generation,” stated Ma.
The delegation flew to Chengdu, capital metropolis of Sichuan Province, on Dec. 21, coinciding with Winter Solstice. In Chinese tradition, Winter Solstice marks the start of deep winter and a break from farming in conventional agricultural society. It can be a time for household gatherings.
Pan Ko-shen, from the Taiwan University of Science and Technology, was impressed by the vastness of the motherland and the disparity throughout the areas, highlighted by the variations in setting and customs between Harbin and Chengdu.
“We had jiaozi on the morning in Harbin and lamb soup on the evening when we arrived in Chengdu, while my family ate tangyuan in Taiwan. We enjoy different foods in different places, but we celebrate the same holiday on the same day, which truly highlights the greatness and charm of Chinese culture,” he stated.
The delegation visited the Sanxingdui Museum and the Chengdu Du Fu Thatched Cottage Museum on Dec. 22 and Dec. 23.
They have been awestruck by treasures just like the bronze masks, the gold scepter, and the bronze heavenly tree on the Sanxingdui Museum.
“People had already mastered such sophisticated craftsmanship more than 3,000 years ago, with styles being a far cry from the central part of the mainland. This is truly impressive,” stated Lin.
At the museum devoted to Du Fu, probably the most well-known poets of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the delegation revisited Du’s life and literary achievements, recited his poems, and attended a symposium on Chinese tradition.
Noting that folks throughout the Strait share the identical roots and cultural id, Ma stated that the Democratic Progressive Party authorities are doomed to fail of their makes an attempt to chop the island’s cultural connections with the mainland.
When reflecting on your complete journey, he stated the interactions between younger individuals throughout the Strait are instinctive and irresistible.
The future lies in younger individuals. “Let’s work together to bring the two sides across the Strait closer and foster their brotherhood. The prospects would be more hopeful,” stated Ma.