A delegation of 40 teachers and students from seven prestigious universities on the mainland has embarked on a nine-day tour of the Taiwan region.
The tour organized by the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation began on Wednesday, with the aim to foster youth exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.
The mainland delegation includes representatives from Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhejiang University, Fujian Normal University, and Beijing Sport University. Among the students is Olympic table tennis champion Ma Long, who currently studies at Beijing Sport University.
Before their departure, the delegates shared their excitement and expectations in separate interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN).
"I look forward to visiting Taiwan and experiencing the island firsthand. I'm eager to try Taiwan's food. I'm not only an athlete this time, but also a university student, which I think will bring me closer with young people in Taiwan. I'm especially excited to visit Taiwan's universities and engage in table tennis exchanges with local students," Ma said.
Mei Longfei, a student from Zhejiang University, expressed a similar sentiment.
"I hope I can make more new friends in Taiwan, and then discuss culture, sports, music and other topics with them. Then I hope I can taste the local food," Mei said.
For some students, the tour holds personal significance.
"I mostly want to go to the Riyue Tan (or the Sun-Moon Lake) in Taiwan. This is because in my hometown Putian, there's the Dongzhen Reservoir which resembles the Riyue Tan, and which is therefore called a 'minor Sun-Monn Lake'. I want to go there to see the real Riyue Tan," said Tong Yingtian, a student from the Fujian Normal University.
Wallace Lee Chak Sum, a student from Tsinghua University in Beijing and a native of Hong Kong, is particularly eager to visit the Tsing Hua University in the city of Hsinchu in Taiwan. The two universities share the same roots but were separated due to historical reasons.
"This time, I could visit and meet students at the Tsing Hua University in the city of Hsinchu. I'm especially looking forward to discussing various issues with students there," Lee said.
The organizer has arranged a packed itinerary for the delegation, which includes visits to six Taiwan universities and renowned scenic spots across the island.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the foundation, highlighted the tour's significance, saying Ma Ying-jeou hopes to see more mainland delegations visiting Taiwan in the future to deepen cross-Strait ties.
This is the second visit of its kind planned by the Ma Ying-jeou foundation. In 2023, faculty members and students from five mainland universities were warmly received across Taiwan, positively impacting cross-Strait relations.
In 2023 and 2024, Ma himself led youth groups from Taiwan on visits to the mainland.
Mainland students share excitement, expectations for exchange tour to Taiwan
