Taiwan, a dream come true.

In childhood, from the familiar Taiwan campus songs, we knew Ali Mountain, Sun Moon Lake……the treasure island of China. It is a land we have dreamed since childhood. For many years, we stand before the map of China, watching the position of Taiwan, measuring the width of the strait and imagining the day we cross it. We have waited so many years. Finally we had our dream come true.

At 9 am March 18, 2010, our delegation of 14 persons in total assembled in Terminal 2, Shanghai Pudong Airport. At 11 am, we took Air China CA195 flight and flew towards Taiwan, carrying our dreams and expectations.

Beautiful Taiwan Island, we are coming!

Fantastic natural scenery: Stop 1, Yangmingshan National Park.

After more than one hour's drive from Yangmingshan National Park, we arrived at Yehliu Geo Park. Yehliu is a cape above sea surface. The marine erosion, weathering and earth movements have created ocean-erosion ditches, ocean-erosion caves, honeycombed rocks, candle rocks, bean curd rocks, mushroom rocks, potholes, melting erosion panels and other peculiar landscapes. Looking at the strange rocks in thousands of postures, we couldn't help but exclaim the power of the nature. 

 Tradition meets modernity: Chung Tai Chan Monastery.

On March 19, we got up at 7 and set out at 8 on time. After a half day's drive, we arrived in Taichung near noon. After we enjoyed the local dishes, we visited the magnificent Chung Tai Chan Monastery, which is highly popular in Southeast Asia. It is not only a Buddhist holy land but also world's highest Buddhist temple where east meets west. The temple stands high into the sky. Notably, the temple has a "Homologous Bridge" donated by Hangzhou Lingyin Temple. Today, let us be peace messengers and take a photo beside the bridge. 

On March 20, we got up at 6 and set out at 7. It took a half day to get back to Taipei. After the lunch, we went to Taipei National Palace Museum – a place collecting cultural and artistic masterpieces of China. The museum has nearly 700,000   collections. Among them, porcelain, calligraphy, painting and bronze ware are most complete, and the Jadeite Cabbage and Meat-shaped Stone on the third floor and the porcelain on the second floor attract the most attention of visitors. In the museum, we exclaimed the wisdom of Chinese nation and the excellence of Chinese workmanship and also felt proud as a Chinese. The palace museum in Taipei and that in Beijing are both palace museums of Chinese nation.  

 Taipei landmarks: Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall and Taipei 101 Tower

On March 21, we all got up very early in order to watch the shift change ceremony at Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall. The ceremony was solemn, stately and sacred. Although the camera flashlights kept flashing, the soldiers'paces and movements remained unbelievably uniform. We were filled with deep esteem.

At the entrance, following the finger of the tour guide, we saw "Taipei 101 tower" in the mist, which used to be the highest building in the world, as high as 508m. Although its world record is broken by the 808m high Durj Dubai, it is still the symbol of Taiwan and the pride of Taiwan people. 

                     [Watch Taipei 101 Tower at the entrance of Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall]

Set out on the return journey with reluctance.

The trip in Taiwan is joyful, but short. In the 4 days and 3 nights, we had more knowledge of Taiwan and more attachment to Taiwan…… In the return airplane, we overlooked the beauty of Taiwan from the windows and thought over her taste. Suddenly, we found we had fallen in deep love for this warm island and for her primitivity and modernity. We were reluctant to bid farewell to her. The Song of Seven Sons" came to our mind:

We are the string of pearls offered by the East Sea.
Ryukyu is my little brother, I am Taiwan.
The spirit of the Zheng family is still warming my heart.
The blood of the patriot has been my heritage.
Mother, the scorching sun is burning me up.
With your order, I shall draw my last fight.
Mother! I want to come home, Mother!

This warm memory will follow me the whole life…

(Thank Miss Guo Xiaoping from Shanghai Supreme Trade Property Development Co., Ltd. for her assistance in providing photos and textual materials. Eton Properties Group was responsible for editing and sorting)