China News Service, Beijing, February 19th: Title: Taiwanese compatriots celebrating the Chinese New Year in reverse: “I came to the mainland to visit relatives.”
Author Zhang Yangbin Lin Shixiong
During this Spring Festival holiday, cross-strait routes are experiencing peak passenger flow.
In addition to the popular schedule of returning to Taiwan to celebrate the New Year, there are also some Taiwan compatriots who "reverse the Chinese New Year" and "land" during the Spring Festival to visit relatives and friends and have some fun. At the end of the holiday, many Taiwanese compatriots were interviewed by reporters from China News Service and said that seeing relatives and old friends reunited. This Spring Festival, the beauty of reunion also means a new beginning.
Ji Huilian: The feeling of reunion is particularly close
Ji Huilian, 56, came to Guangdong, where her brother lives, during the Spring Festival holiday. This was not her first visit to the mainland, but it was her first time celebrating the New Year here.
“The last time I came here was more than ten years ago.” Ji Huilian described the changes in Dongguan, Shanwei and other places as “a world of difference”. Accompanied by her relatives, Ji Huilian visited several cities in Guangdong and tasted local delicacies. "I was particularly impressed by the Shanwei Night Market. You can eat delicacies from all over the mainland in one night market. It is so satisfying."
During this trip, Ji Huilian also carefully selected many unique souvenirs. “Not only are famous mainland wines and snacks, but also spicy hot pot base ingredients that many Taiwanese friends are looking for. It’s almost too big to fit in your luggage.”
Ji Huilian said that the customs in Guangdong and Taiwan are similar, and the familiar Hokkien language can also be heard in Guangdong, making the New Year atmosphere even more intense. When preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner, the family still retained Taiwanese customs. "Mustard is called perennial vegetable in Taiwan, which means health and longevity; radish is called Caitou in Taiwan, which means good luck in the new year." Ji Huilian said that although it is a simple home-cooked dish, it is plain but heart-warming. It feels special to reunite with relatives in the mainland. relative.
Shi Jixuan: Wherever the family is together, it’s always New Year
Ginger duck, Taiwanese braised cabbage, pot-wrapped pork, shredded sweet potatoes...these "North and South" dishes were the New Year's Eve dinner that Shi Jixuan from Changhua had during the Spring Festival in Suzhou. Since her daughter and son both stayed in the mainland for the New Year, she also decided to come here to reunite.
"Whether we are in mainland China or Taiwan, I think it is better to celebrate the New Year when relatives are together." Shi Jixuan is engaged in the e-commerce industry in Taiwan, mainly selling tea. Her daughter and son are in charge of mainland business in Jiangsu.
On New Year's Eve, the family got together in Suzhou. "A friend from Northeast China prepared six dishes, and my son also prepared six Taiwanese dishes." Shi Jixuan shared the making process of the New Year's Eve dinner with reporters.
During the Spring Festival holiday, she and her children went to Tianjin to pay New Year greetings to their octogenarian godmother, and by the way, they watched lantern festivals, dragon and lion dances and other folk activities at the Drum Tower. "My godmother is from Tianjin. When her family traveled to Taiwan, we hit it off and had a very happy chat." Speaking of this fate, Shi Jixuan found it very strange.
During the Spring Festival holiday, Shi Jixuan’s family went to Tianjin to watch the Spring Festival Lantern Festival at the Drum Tower. (Photo provided by interviewee)
Shi Jixuan said that since she first arrived in the mainland ten years ago, she has been traveling between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. However, she was unable to make the trip due to the epidemic in the past three years, and the number of times she met her children was also limited. "The happiest thing about the past year is that I can finally come to the mainland." Shi Jixuan made a New Year's wish: the new year will get better and better.
Chen Quzhou: I want to visit the mainland in the rest of my life
On the seventh day of the Lunar New Year, Chen Quzhou took his mother, wife, son, daughter-in-law, etc. and boarded the return flight, ending his half-month trip to Shanghai. As a 60-year-old man, he brought his family with him to have a "Shanghai-style New Year" during the Spring Festival holiday.
Chen Quzhou's sister has moved to Shanghai for more than 20 years. When she came to Shanghai this time, the brother and sister were particularly close to each other. "We walked around Shanghai during the day and went back to my sister's house for dinner in the evening. It was rare for a dozen or so members of the family to get together. It was fun and lively."
On New Year's Eve, Chen Quzhou specially chose a Taiwanese restaurant for the New Year's Eve dinner. "Celebrating the New Year in mainland China, there are fewer cumbersome rules, but the traditional sense of ritual is indispensable. Giving red envelopes to juniors and keeping watch for the elderly on New Year's Eve are necessary for celebrating the New Year everywhere."
This is not Chen Quzhou’s first Spring Festival in mainland China. When he returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors more than ten years ago, he celebrated the New Year in Quzhou, Zhejiang. "The New Year was more intense at that time, maybe because he returned to his hometown." He said that the "Quzhou" in his name is the "Quzhou" of his ancestral home. The homophonic pronunciation means that when the elders choose the name, they hope that they will remember their ancestors and respect their ancestors, and not forget where they came from.
Chen Quzhou compared to reporters two photos taken when the family went to Quzhou to worship ancestors in 2007 and this Spring Festival trip. He lamented that now that his father has passed away, his mother is very old, and the childish child he once had has grown up, time flies, and he should cherish the happiness of the moment.
During the Spring Festival in 2007, Chen Quzhou's family returned to Quzhou, Zhejiang to worship their ancestors. The family took a group photo outside their old house in Quanwang Town. (Photo provided by interviewee)
Chen Quzhou's retirement life is warm and peaceful, but he has a big wish - to visit the mainland in the rest of his life. "I have already been to almost all the coastal provinces in mainland China. Grasslands and snow-capped mountains are my next goals. At the beginning of the new year, I will also plan my next trip." (End)