Culture, kinship ease passage across Strait

Invitation extended

To support such integration, mainland authorities listed specific measures in September, including convenient transportation, deeper industrial cooperation, and easier adaptation to local life to facilitate Taiwan compatriots moving to Fujian.

To help Taiwan people settle in and reduce their living costs, a community designated for them was launched in Fuzhou, Fujian's capital, last year. It is the first such community on the mainland and offers rental properties at prices below market rate.

Chen Yan-ting, a taekwondo coach from Taiwan, moved into an apartment in the community last year with her partner. They opened a taekwondo gym in Fuzhou as the market was too saturated in Taiwan. Currently, they have around 60 students.

They have made clever use of the space in their apartment. In the small living room, there is a stack of stools in the corner to provide more seating when needed.

"Students and their parents often come to our home for meals," Chen said. "They are my friends and they also recommend more clients."