Xinhua News Agency, Dalian, April 27th Title: Crossing mountains and seas, blood is connected - a side note of the marine cultural exchange between Taiwan compatriots on both sides of the straits

Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yan

The sea breeze blows gently, cool and comfortable. The morning light shone on the Dalian Lushun Port. A group of people took a cable car to the top of Baiyu Mountain, overlooking the spectacular Lushun Military Port and naval warships.

"This is the first time I have seen the Lushun Military Port. The Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895 has broken out here, affecting the fate of Taiwanese people!" Chen Meixia, a professor at the University of Chenggong, looked at the scene in front of her and her voice trembled. 130 years ago, the Qing government, which was defeated in the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-1895, signed the Treaty of Shimonoseki with Japan and was forced to cede Taiwan.

Along with Chen Meixia, many Taiwanese compatriots also gathered in Dalian at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Taiwan Straits League to participate in a cross-strait marine cultural exchange activity with the theme of "The sea is wide and the same boat, the tide is surging in the future".

"It turns out that Taiwan's first undersea telegraph line was paved by the Shipkeeper!" In the Shipkeeper History Exhibition Hall of Dalian International Convention Center, the yellowed manuscript of "Ship Warehouse Rules" and the Qing Dynasty Shipkeeper Minister Shen Baozhen arranged a war preparation map for Taiwan, as if it brought back more than a hundred years ago. Student Zhang from Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology had a novel light shining in his eyes. "I also learned about the Shipbuilding Administration when I was a child, but it was not so detailed. This exhibition really opened my eyes."

In the Ship Administration History Exhibition Hall of Dalian International Conference Center, Taiwanese compatriots visited the large-load drone independently developed by Dalian Ocean University (photo on April 23). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yan

From the launch of China's first thousand-ton warship "Wannian Qing" manufactured by the Fuzhou Shipbuilding Bureau, to the aircraft carrier independently developed by China, the struggle of more than 100 years has been slowly unfolding in the exhibition hall.

In front of the photo of "Old Photos of Taipei City", Chen Meixia stopped for a long time. In 1875, Shen Baozhen submitted an approval to add Taipei Prefecture. Chen Meixia, who was over 70 years old, said: "Today, the first time I saw these precious cultural relics on site, it seemed that history and reality were connected, which was very touched." She took out her mobile phone and took an old photo of the Taipei Municipal Government naming the public hall "Shen Baozhen Hall" to commemorate Shen Baozhen's achievements in protecting Taiwan. "More people need to know these history, and the integration between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait will be natural." In 1874, Japan sent troops to invade Taiwan, and Shen Baozhen was ordered to command the Shipbuilding Fleet to cross the sea to defend Taiwan. Since then, in line with the goal of promoting Taiwan's benefits, the Qing government carried out modernization undertakings such as mechanical mining and road construction in Taiwan, opening the curtain for Taiwan's modernization. The Shimen Ancient Battlefield Monument, which is still standing in Pingtung County, Taiwan, still tells the world this history.

The tour guide pointed to an art work called "The "Ten Thousand Years of Qing" in the Taiwan Strait" and explained that this first thousand-ton warship built by the ship government was once the "maritime lifeline" for material transportation between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese student Jian Xingyu slowly shuttled through the exhibition hall, "I read thousands of books and traveled thousands of miles. This time I came to Dalian to learn a lot."

In the mottled ship administration literature and vivid modern technology, everyone seems to be able to touch the marine genes with the same roots and origins on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The world's first commercial 7500 cubic meter liquid carbon dioxide transport ship model, a large-load drone with a maximum wind resistance level of 8, and a professional Antarctic krill fishing and processing ship "Fuxinghai" ship model... The modern marine scientific and technological achievements on display have amazed Taiwanese compatriots.

80-year-old Taipei native Ding Zhenlong is experiencing the VR yacht simulator. He operates the driver's rod to break the waves and shows three-dimensional images of the hull running in real time on the screen. "This is my first time driving a yacht. I feel that the development and progress of the motherland's mainland has been too great, beyond my imagination!"

The eyes of Taiwanese young man Li Pu were shocked: "I feel that the motherland is gradually recovering its original strength as a maritime power. I am experiencing this process of national rejuvenation."

Taiwan student Jian Xingyu (second from right) and his classmates overlook the Yellow-Bohai Sea dividing line at the Laotie Mountain Observation Deck of Lushun, Dalian (photo taken on April 24). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Li Yan

The trip to Dalian is like a bridge connecting the history, culture and future of Taiwan compatriots and the mainland. They touch the pulse of national rejuvenation in the long river of history and feel the magnificence of the mainland in the embrace of nature.

At the Laotieshan Observation Platform, Taiwanese compatriots overlook the dividing line of the Yellow and Bohai Seas. The two seas meet here but the colors are distinct. Everyone takes out their mobile phones to record this strange landscape.

Taiwanese students are full of longing for the future. Zhang, who lives in Taichung, has already planned to go to Shenzhen for an internship. Xie, from Kaohsiung, is studying for a first-year graduate student in electronics. He said: "The development of the mainland is changing with each passing day. Maybe I will come to the mainland to develop in a few years. I also want to see more places in the mainland and gain more experiences."