Compatriots from across the Taiwan Strait on June 18 gather at the Fuzhou Taiwan Hall in Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, a historic site in downtown Fuzhou, Fujian province, to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. [Photo by Zhang Yi / chinadaily.com.cn]

Meanwhile, 70 Taiwan compatriots gathered at the Fuzhou Taiwan Hall in Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, a historic area in downtown Fuzhou, for a festive celebration. The event featured hands-on folk activities, including zongzi wrapping and herbal pouch making, as well as a food-tasting area showcasing flavors from both Fuzhou and Taiwan.

"No matter the state of cross-Strait relations, grassroots exchanges continue," said Chang Tun-wei, a Taiwan entrepreneur who opened a restaurant in Fuzhou in 2019. "Food is the easiest way to lower barriers and foster mutual understanding among people."

Chang said culinary traditions and festival customs remain similar on both sides of the Strait because many people in Taiwan trace their ancestry to Zhangzhou and Quanzhou in Fujian province. This shared history means that the food cultures of the two sides stem from the same geographical roots, he added.

Yang Li-chu, an associate professor at Fuzhou University of International Studies and Trade, attended the event with three students and documented the festivities together.

"Having crossed the sea to come to Fuzhou, finding identical customs gives me a genuine feeling of being back home," Yang said.

It is regrettable that traditional Chinese culture is increasingly marginalized in Taiwan because of political factors, Yang said, adding that she hopes academic and cultural exchanges will help younger generations in Taiwan gain a better understanding of their heritage.