Passengers bond over surnames, shared roots

Beyond the exchange of traditional festive greetings, a profound sense of shared ancestry has taken off this Spring Festival as cross-Strait passengers rediscover their familial roots through the lens of Chinese surname culture.

The initiative, launched by Xiamen Airlines on routes linking Xiamen in Fujian province with Taipei, Beijing and cities in Southeast Asia, features cabin interiors adorned with Chinese family name motifs and digital platforms that allow travelers to trace their families' migration paths.

The cultural connection is particularly resonant in the Fujian-Taiwan region, where the vast majority of Taiwan residents trace their lineage to the mainland, mainly Fujian and Guangdong provinces. For centuries, surnames have served as a cultural code, maintaining kinship ties across the Taiwan Strait.

"Our family moved to Taiwan from Guangdong 10 generations ago, yet we still follow a strict generational naming system," said a passenger surnamed Yang who flew to Xiamen on a vacation. "When I meet someone with the same surname, I feel an instant bond."

Zhang, who has lived in Taiwan for 23 years and whose ancestral home is in Fujian, said the onboard surname-themed decorations created a festive atmosphere. Encountering people who shared her surname gave her an immediate sense of kinship.

Wu Ming-chieh, a flight attendant from Taiwan, said passengers often share their family stories with her. "When I meet passengers with the same family name, I tell them, 'I am a Wu, too.' This simple connection instantly closes the gap between us."

Wu Ying-hua, a purser from Taiwan who has operated numerous cross-Strait flights, said such activities help passengers bond over family ties on their journey home. "Serving compatriots from both sides for reunion is the most fulfilling part of my job," she said.

An event inviting passengers to share and explore the history behind their surnames was held on Tuesday at Xiamen Railway Station. The bustling departure hall drew crowds of travelers who imprinted their family names onto customized postcards and received "family fortune bags" and Spring Festival couplets, turning the journey home into a celebration of shared lineage.

Among the participants was Li Gaoxiong, a Taiwan compatriot residing in Fujian. His name reflects cross-Strait history. Li said his surname is one of the major surnames in Taiwan, with most ancestors originating from Fujian or Guangdong.

"My grandmother gave me the name Gaoxiong, referring to the city of Kaohsiung in Taiwan, in the early 1970s," Li recalled. "Back then, direct exchanges were restricted between the two sides, and the name carried her profound longing for her connection to Taiwan."

"Honoring our ancestors and tracing our family origins are among the most important traditions of Spring Festival," Li said. "Through our surnames, we find that our roots lead back to the mainland. This event awakens the ancestral consciousness embedded in our genes, helping us rediscover where we belong."