Over 40,000 fireworks lit up the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday as Xiamen (Fujian Province) and Kinmen island staged their annual synchronized Spring Festival show – a dazzling symbol of cross-Strait cultural bonds. The 30-minute spectacle, launched in 1987, saw crowds cheering from both shores as golden sparks reflected on the waters separating the two regions by just 2km.
🎇 'When fireworks burst simultaneously, it’s like our hearts beating as one family,' said Kinmen resident Chang Yang-yang, attending for the third time. Taiwan businessman Han Ying-huan echoed the sentiment: 'This isn’t just pretty lights – it’s our shared hope for integration and national rejuvenation.'
Beyond pyrotechnics, traditions thrive: Kinmen’s lion dancers brought luck charms while Fuzhou-Matsu lantern festivals marked 24 years of folk collaboration. The celebrations come as cross-Strait travel hits six-year highs, with 5+ million visits in 2025. 🚢 Fujian resumed group tours to Kinmen/Matsu in 2024, with Shanghai set to follow soon.
Beijing’s recent Taiwan affairs meeting pledged expanded cultural exchanges, aligning with residents like Peng O-ya who video-called family in Taipei during the show: 'Let’s work hand-in-hand across the Strait – our era is full of promise!'
As embers faded, one message glowed clear: cultural bridges burn brighter than any firework. 🌉✨
