Young people from both the Chinese mainland and Taiwan are calling for more youth exchanges and communication to enhance mutual understanding.
Hao Jiaxin and Chen Jiayong are two mainland students studying in Taiwan. Hao is a master's student while Chen is pursuing his PHD degree. Having stayed in the island for many years, they have formed close relations with their teachers and schoolmates from Taiwan.
"I noticed that many young people in Taiwan are also using social media platforms from the mainland, including Xiaohongshu and Bilibili. When talking with them, I found they actually have some understanding of mainland internet culture. Therefore, I think having common topics is the first step, and would make it easier to start in-depth communication and understanding," said Hao.
Since 2016, the number of mainland students in Taiwan like Hao and Chen has plunged.
According to data, the number of mainland students in Taiwan reached 41,975 in 2016. It plummeted to only 4,651 in 2023.
Meanwhile, an increasing number of young people from Taiwan have been welcomed to pursue studies on the Chinese mainland.
From March 27 to April 7 last year, former chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang party Ma Ying-jeou led a group of young people from Taiwan and visited Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing, Shanghai and some other places.
One year later, Ma led another youth delegation from Taiwan on a 11-day tour of the mainland in April.
Wan Yu-ming was one of the students in this year's delegation. He was impressed by the rapid development and rich culture of the mainland.
"The mainland has been doing well to foster cultural soft power. We went to the Palace Museum, especially the conservation workshop. Everyone there introduced their specific working fields, and each of them is unique in its own way," he said.
Li Liang-i, another Taiwan student of this year's delegation, said the face-to-face exchanges with students from the mainland provided a chance for better mutual understanding.
"We found that we actually have something in common in the things we are interested in. For example, when we were there, many students asked us if we watched 'Blossoms Shanghai'. This TV series was very popular in Taiwan. They would also say that they watched the film 'The Pig, the Snake and the Pigeon', which was popular in the mainland. So we share many similarities in terms of food, hobbies and ways of entertainment," said Li.
Mainland, Taiwan youth call for more exchanges to enhance understanding
Known primarily for its coal production, the city of Taiyuan in Shanxi Province is undergoing a cultural transformation. As part of China's booming concert economy, Taiyuan is actively seeking to provide unforgettable experiences for music fans.
Local authorities are supporting businesses in capitalizing on the growing demand for immersive concert experiences.
Taiyuan has implemented innovative initiatives. The city offers free public transportation for concert attendees, including bus and subway rides, both during the concert period and for three days before and after the event .
Taiyuan's commitment to creating a vibrant concert atmosphere is evident throughout the city. Giant banners and posters promote upcoming events, while various support activities further enhance the experience.
At a recent concert, a CGTN correspondent witnessed the city's dedication to providing a memorable experience. Each fan was greeted with a personalized souvenir bag filled with local specialties. Additionally, a captivating drone performance delighted the audience, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event.
"We have both also been to several concerts before. But this is the first time we've enjoyed various perks. Some shops are offering free merchandise. There are shuttle buses. The concert ticket also provides free admission to other local attractions. I think it is really nice," a concertgoer said.
"I have attended several concerts in Taiyuan where I have had really great experiences," another concert fan said.
Taiyuan's thoughtful initiatives have not only delighted concertgoers but also stimulated the city's consumer activity.
"From April to September, Taiyuan hosted more than 10 concerts. We could feel the enthusiasm of the fans at each event. There was a noticeable increase in hotel bookings as well," said Ma Shuting, marketing manager of a local hotel.
The concert period has also boosted the street-stall economy. The area around the venue has been transformed into a vibrant marketplace, with hundreds of stalls offering a diverse range of goods and services, from snacks and concert merchandise to beauty treatments.
"Business is doing quite well because there are many people coming from both out of town and locally. The daily revenue is approximately between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan (about 282 to 423 U.S. dollars)," a vendor told CGTN.
To solidify its position as a leading performing arts center in Northern China, the local government has made a significant commitment to fostering the concert economy.
"All 11 government departments in Taiyuan have jointly introduced several measures to support the development of the concert economy. For concert organizers in Taiyuan that meet the criteria, subsidies ranging from 150,000 yuan to 800,000 yuan (about 21,200 to 113,000 U.S. dollars) will be provided. Additionally, the city government has also established a special task force to ensure the smooth running of large-scale concerts," said Liu Rui, deputy director of the Taiyuan Bureau of Culture and Tourism.
The concert economy holds immense potential for economic growth, as demonstrated by the impact of Taylor Swift and Coldplay concerts on Singapore's GDP, which was boosted by around 0.25 percent.
Taiyuan is positioning itself as a major player in the concert industry, with over 30 concerts scheduled for this year alone. These events are expected to attract nearly 800,000 fans and generate tens of billions of yuan in consumer spending.
The city's commitment to the concert economy reflects its proactive pursuit of new growth drivers. This not only boosts consumption in the culture and tourism sector but also contributes to the broader economic transition toward high-quality growth.
Taiyuan's thriving concert economy boosts cultural, tourism growth
