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750 set to make trip to Taiwan from China

by JeffHuang | July 1, 2008 at 02:41 pm

841 views | 12 Recommendations | 4 comments

Direct flights between Taiwan and China is a great start to the new relationship between the two lands. Before when I made my trips from Taiwan to Shanghai it would take me a whole day to get there. We would leave from Taipei to fly to Hong Kong to transfer to Shanghai. Maybe I was unlucky, but my waits in Hong Kong was always 2-3 hours long. So a simple trip from Taiwan to Shanghai would almost waste two days of your time back and forth. It was the most absurd idea, but due to political reasons, it was necessary. However, now direct flights between Taiwan and Shanghai would only take 1hr (I am not too sure about the exact flying tme) instead of a whole day.

Here are more NowPublic articles written on the subject of Taiwan and China.

Taiwan and China new relationship.

and

The opening of formal talks between Taiwan and China.

More than 750 people will be onboard the first direct tourist charter flights from the mainland to Taiwan on Friday, the Cross-Straits Tourism Exchange Association (CTEA) said on Monday.

Zhu Shanzhong, the association's secretary-general, told a press conference that tour groups - the first since the signing last month of a landmark agreement allowing direct flights - will fly from five cities and will be headed by CTEA Chairman Shao Qiwei.

A total of 353 people will fly from Beijing, while four other groups, each comprising 100 travelers, will leave from Shanghai, Nanjing, Xiamen and Guangzhou, Zhu said.

The Beijing group will comprise mostly members of the public, but also journalists and representatives from the tourism industry for the purpose of exchange and inspection, he said, without giving exact numbers.

The tourists will stay in Taiwan for up to 10 days, while the officials will be there for just a week, he said.

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julianw

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 14:46 on July 1st, 2008

JeffHuang, thanks for your personal perspective.

Maireid Sullivan

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 22:32 on July 1st, 2008

JeffHuang, I like this story. It's good stuff.

This is good news.

I recommend a wonderful film set in China. "Riding Alone for a Thousand Miles". It is the story of a Japanese fisherman's journey along the path his son followed in China! It shows how the human spirit thrives on the source of joy, even within the highly regulated world of China.

mroylbca

at 02:05 on July 2nd, 2008

This photo was taken at Shuitou Village on Kinmen Island Taiwan. The village is a collection of typical architecture in good condition from the Qinng Dynasty. There is a restoration project going on to save the homes. Kinmen Island is about 3 miles from mainland China. My visit to Kinmen has been a memorable experience. To tell you the truth most Americans never thiink of visiting Taiwan. I have been three times and I love this beautful country. I have traveled from Taipei to Kaosiung down the west coast and down the east coast through the mountainous region.

mroylbca has contributed a photo to this story.

Heritage

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 01:02 on July 3rd, 2008

JeffHuang, I like this story. It's good stuff.

I might have time tomorrow to get down to Taipei's SongShan airport and take some photos of the Chinese tourists arriving. It's quite a historic event.