Chinese tourists visit popular attractions
© AFP Patrick Lin TAOYUAN, Taiwan (AFP) - Liu Shaoyong, the chairman of China Southern Airlines who personally piloted the flight from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou to Taiwan, gave a triumphant thumbs-up as he landed the Airbus A330.
Jets of water then doused the plane, in a traditional ceremony that symbolises washing the dust from travellers.
About 100 Chinese tourists, many wearing matching t-shirts and baseball caps, smiled and waved as they walked through Taoyuan international airport outside Taipei, before they were quickly whisked off in tour buses.
"We were lucky to be on the plane since many people were fighting for seats on the inaugural flight," said Chinese businessman Wang Yu, in his 40s, adding he planned to treat his wife to a sight-seeing tour of the island.
Taiwan is rolling out the red carpet for the 750 Chinese visitors who will arrive aboard a series of flights from the mainland Friday. A lavish banquet is planned for the evening.
A bouquet of flowers was presented to Liu, who said flying over the strait dividing Taiwan from the mainland was like "coming home."
"This is a sacred moment. The two sides of the strait are like members in one family," he said.
The weekend charter service, a key component of a campaign promise made by Taiwan's new President Ma Ying-jeou to quickly improve relations with Beijing, is the first since the two sides split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.
Chinese tour leader Du, who declined to give his full name, said his group would spend 10 days visiting attractions in Taiwan, and predicted the convenience of the direct flights would lure more mainland visitors.
Chinese tourists arrive in Taoyuan
© AFP Patrick LinBefore Friday, Chinese tourists wanting to visit Taiwan had to travel via Hong Kong or elsewhere, adding hours to their journey.
"There are so many places we want to see. We are so happy to be here," said Yang Rongsheng from the Guangzhou tourism bureau.
Tsai Chang-lung, a Taiwanese businessman based in China, took advantage of the flight to return home with his wife.
"It is my wife's gift for me for my 50th birthday. We are happy to enjoy this historic moment together," Tsai told AFP.
But not everyone was keen to welcome the mainland tourists.
Around a dozen demonstrators stood outside Songshan airport in Taipei shouting "free Tibet", while members of the Falungong spiritual group, banned in China, fanned out across Taipei to protest Beijing's alleged persecution of sect members.
The owner of one Taiwanese restaurant said he would not serve the mainlanders.
"They are communist bandits," Liu Ming-song told local television station TVBS.
©AFP