Ferries strengthen cross-Straits bonds

During this year's Spring Festival, many people were reunited with their families by taking the ferry between the coastal areas of Fujian province and the outlying islands of Kinmen and Matsu of Taiwan.

The ferry routes from Fujian's Xiamen to Kinmen, and the provincial capital Fuzhou to Matsu, resumed from Jan 7 to Feb 6 after a suspension of nearly three years, in order to facilitate travel during the holiday.

Many people from Kinmen and their mainland spouses took the ferries on Saturday, Chinese New Year's Eve, to spend the holiday in Xiamen, while some people from Kinmen who work in Xiamen returned to their hometowns.

A video released by China News Service showed passengers with heavy luggage arriving at the festively decorated Xiamen Wutong Wharf. Staff at the border checkpoint gave them Spring Festival couplets and candies and spoke with them in the local dialect.

"It is full of a festive atmosphere," Dai Cuijuan, a passenger who took the ferry from Xiamen to Kinmen, said in the video. "I haven't come back for three years, and feel excited, so I think everywhere looks great."

Tsai Meng-te, who took the ferry back to his hometown in Kinmen, said, "I missed my home very much." He has been working in Xiamen for about 18 years, and his wife and children live in Kinmen.

Taking heavy suitcases with him, Tsai had prepared many gifts for his family.

"Sunflower seeds, nuts, snacks, children's toys… The corn flour is for my wife. She likes cornmeal porridge," he said.

Dai Na, a border official at Xiamen, said in the video:"During festivals, we always create an appropriate atmosphere in the wharf to welcome travelers on their way back home."

"This year, I felt very familiar seeing the wharf being busy again and hearing the accent of our Taiwan compatriots," said Dai Na, who was greeting cross-Straits passengers at the wharf.

From Jan 7 to Sunday, there was one round trip between Xiamen and Kinmen every day, with a total of 1,111 outbound passengers and 851 inbound passengers, according to Xiamen Wutong Wharf.

The ferry services, which were launched in 2001, were suspended by the island's authorities Democratic Progressive Party in February 2020 as part of its COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures.

By February 2020, over 22 million passengers had traveled via the routes since the services started in 2001.

Xiamen and Kinmen, with their close distance and tight bonds, also held a dazzling fireworks display on Sunday evening, the second day of the Spring Festival holiday, to celebrate the festival.