He spoke with a "cute" Taiwanese accent, which entertained the students in the audience.
As the first Taiwanese teacher at the School of Journalism and New Media of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Liao Zhengmao chose to work and live in the ancient city of Xi'an after completing his PhD at Peking University.
When looking for a job, the mainland's diverse research directions and open academic atmosphere gave Liao Zhengmao a variety of choices, and he received offers from more than ten universities. He said: "I fully feel the respect and recognition given by the school, and I also believe that the vast western region and sufficient policies and regulations can support my development westward and achieve my academic pursuits."
The picture shows Liao Zhengmao giving a lecture. Photo courtesy of interviewee
"People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share the same roots and do not feel any separation. If given the opportunity, I would very much like to take root in Xi'an." Liao Zhengmao said.
Compared with his 2011 trip to Xi'an, Liao Zhengmao, who came to Xi'an again, found that the convenient and fast public transportation network and modern urban facilities have brought about earth-shaking changes in this ancient city.
It’s not just Xi’an. In the past 10 years, a series of policies and measures such as “adding free trade pilot zones and comprehensive bonded zones in the central and western regions” have protected the further promotion of high-quality development in the western region.
With the rapid development of the western part of the mainland, the "Westward Expansion" trend has also attracted many Taiwanese compatriots to pursue their dreams westward and pour their deep feelings into this "second hometown."
For Taiwanese young man Lin Houqing, the roaring Yellow River and the vast Loess Plateau are the scenery he longs for.
In 2018, Lin Houqing started his study life at the School of Civil Engineering and Mechanics of Lanzhou University, and finally saw the beautiful scenery he had longed for. "Landa University is a school with a rich history and has provided a large number of talents to the country."
On April 2, 2021, Lin Houqing took a commemorative photo at the Yangguan site. Photo provided by interviewee
More than three years of studying and living in Lanzhou have completely changed Lin Houqing’s previous understanding of the western region. Using his camera to record the majestic dreams of the Hexi Corridor, and using pen and paper to record the fireworks of the world in Lanzhou, he not only deeply experienced the growth and transformation of being a Taiwanese student integrating into the mainland study and life, but also gradually made his dream goal clear.
"Super projects have always fascinated me. My major is civil engineering and my hobby is photography. I hope to spread what I see and understand to the public." Lin Houqing said that he wanted to record the construction process and behind-the-scenes of super projects in various places. Stories let the public know the precious humanistic spirit behind the architecture.
On October 18, 2020, Lin Houqing photographed the colorful Danxia in Zhangye. Photo provided by the interviewee
Like Lin Houqing, Zang Mingyuan also traveled from Kaohsiung, Taiwan to Chongqing 17 years ago with a dream, where he worked and started a family. Now, the seeds of the dream I had in mind when I came to the mainland are growing into towering trees in this western mountain city.
"Go home and have a look!" This is what Zang Mingyuan's grandfather, who immigrated to Taiwan from the mainland in 1948, often told Zang Mingyuan. Coupled with the mainland's economic boom after the reform and opening up, Zang Mingyuan decided to come to the mainland to try his luck. "The goal at that time was to stay in the mainland."
Unlike most Taiwan compatriots who landed at that time, Zang Mingyuan finally decided on Chongqing as the stage to realize his dream after visiting several provinces and cities. "Chongqing people's upright personality and enthusiasm are particularly similar to those of Kaohsiung people. Perhaps it is the different attraction from the coastal area that makes me linger in this beautiful mountain city," he said. The development of
's career is not always smooth sailing, but Zang Mingyuan said: "When encountering difficulties, the city government will patiently help me find solutions, and mainland friends will also provide me with the help they can, which makes me feel very warm."
Zang Mingyuan Participate in activities on the mainland. Photo provided by the interviewee
Zang Mingyuan is mainly engaged in funeral services. He believes that in recent years, mainland China's service industry management mechanism and laws and regulations have gradually improved, allowing personnel engaged in the funeral industry to hold certificates to work, "not only guaranteeing the rights and interests of consumers, but also giving practitioners a 'reassurance'."
According to statistics from the Chongqing Taiwan Affairs Office, there are currently about 3,000 Taiwanese residents in Chongqing. In May 2020, the Taiwan Affairs Office of Chongqing Municipality and the Taiwan Affairs Office of Sichuan Province signed the "Strategic Cooperation Framework Agreement to Deepen Exchanges and Cooperation between Sichuan and Chongqing with Taiwan and Promote Taiwan Compatriots and Taiwanese Enterprises to Participate in the Construction of the Chengdu-Chongqing Twin-City Economic Circle" to provide opportunities for Taiwan compatriots to develop westward. Create better conditions.
"As the mainland opens wider and wider, the space for Taiwan compatriots to display their talents is not limited to the eastern coastal areas. The western areas are along the 'Belt and Road' and the New Western Land-Sea Corridor. I am very optimistic about the future of these places." Development prospects." Zang Mingyuan said.
Today, Zang Mingyuan also runs a specialty snack and milk tea shop. He married a Taiwanese girl who also works in the mainland and started a family. His goal of "staying" when he first arrived in the mainland has already been exceeded.
Zang Mingyuan said: "I often recommend relatives and friends in Taiwan to come to the mainland to study and live. Here, there are poems and distant places." (Reporters Ma Xinran, Liu Haodong, Xu Xintao, Zhang Wenjing, Liu Enli)
