As part of thawing relations between the two countries, Taiwan and China have increased travel across the Straights. A growing number of flights have taken mainland passengers to the Island, including daily flights from a growing number of provinces. This year’s Chinese New Year brought over 10,000 visitors to the Island, and marked a new high in exchange travel in recent years.
During the celebrations an official delegation from China’s Travel Bureau visited the island. The diplomatic interactions mark a new high point in cultural exchange in recent years. The Bureau also opened up travel across the Straights for 17 additional provinces, drawing thousands of tourists and travelers eager to visit friends, family and sites on the Island.
Additional signs of warming relations include the exchange of Chinese Imperial art between museums across the Straits. According to reports, the head of Taiwan’s National Museum will visit Beijing for talks about lending pieces to mainland Museums. Many of China’s most ancient art pieces are held in Taiwan and the exchange would allow the highest level of art exchange since the 1949 Civil War that cut off formal ties between the two arts communities. At the same time, commerce is continuing to flow between the countries, with postal service and communications now flowing freely across the Straits.
