A delegation of 30 young residents from the Taiwan region completed an eight-day visit to Shandong province in the Chinese mainland on Friday, deepening cultural and historical connections through exchanges centered on Confucian heritage and intergenerational remembrance.
The group, organized by the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation and led by its executive director Hsiao Hsu-tsen, visited cultural landmarks including Qufu’s Temple of Confucius, where they participated in traditional rituals honoring the ancient philosopher. One participant shared that while praying for academic success is common at Taiwan’s Confucius temples, he sought blessings for his career aspirations in civil engineering this time.
Hsiao emphasized the trip’s significance, stating, "Sacred traditions like honoring Confucius and the Yan Emperor are shared spiritual foundations for compatriots across the strait. These roots remind us that no external pressures can sever our inherent cultural bonds."
The delegation marked the upcoming Qingming Festival—a time for honoring ancestors—by paying respects at Zaozhuang’s Taierzhuang War Memorial Hall. Participants laid flowers at the site commemorating the 1938 Battle of Taierzhuang, a pivotal victory during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Youth dialogues and visits to cross-straits themed parks underscored the trip’s focus on building mutual understanding. "Expanding social exchanges reduces misunderstandings and builds consensus," Hsiao noted, referencing the foundation’s ongoing initiatives.
This visit follows recent cultural and sports exchanges between mainland and Taiwan students, including a mainland delegation’s warmly received trip to Taiwan earlier in 2024.
