A strait cannot sever the shared cultural heritage, and the millennia-old Shu roads have linked the hearts of people across the Taiwan Strait. From July 13 to 20, the 2026 Tracing Bashu Roots, Walking Together in Culture Cross-Strait Youth Cultural Exchange Program was held in Sichuan Province. More than 70 Taiwan compatriots embarked on an eight-day journey to trace their roots in the Bashu region, visiting scenic landscapes and historical sites to experience a millennium-old civilization. Through immersive visits, they felt the profound bond of shared origins and blood ties across the Strait.

Enjoying Sichuan with Ease

Most members of this exchange delegation were visiting Sichuan for the first time, arriving with curiosity and anticipation for Bashu culture. Two Taiwan youths who had previously visited the province voluntarily served as "guides, leading their companions to Jiuzhaigou Valley, Dujiangyan, Sanxingdui, the Hometown of Dayu in Beichuan, the Two Bombs City in Mianyang, and the Qiqu Mountain Grand Temple. These visits allowed them to fully experience the rich and diverse natural landscapes and historical heritage of the Bashu region.

The visit to Jiuzhaigou Valley was a highlight of the program. The Taiwan youths marveled at the breathtaking scenery, describing the lake waters as deep and sapphire-blue. One participant reflected, "In sunshine, one admires the water; in rain, one listens to the mountains. Though we encountered rain, stepping into this landscape painting with a different mindset helped me realize that the misty rain also holds its own romance." At the Five-Color Pond, the group changed into traditional ethnic costumes to immerse themselves in Tibetan and Qiang customs. One Taiwan youth happily shared the immense joy of taking photos in Tibetan attire and singing and dancing with local residents.

Throughout the itinerary, interactions with local residents allowed the Taiwan youths to experience the warmth and hospitality of the Sichuan people, dispelling any initial sense of unfamiliarity. This eight-day root-tracing journey in Bashu served not only as an immersive cultural study tour but also as a youthful gathering that bridged the Strait and brought young people from both sides closer together. A student surnamed Zheng from Taiwan stated candidly that during his first visit to Sichuan, he deeply felt its profound historical heritage and cultural charm, adding that upon returning to Taiwan, he would share his experiences to encourage more fellow students to visit Sichuan for exchanges.

Cultural Heritage Forging Unity

The cultural heritage of Bashu, spanning thousands of years, is a vital component of China's outstanding traditional culture. Through in-depth visits, the delegation members gained a deeper understanding of the shared cultural roots across the Strait. In particular, the ancient Shu civilization of Sanxingdui, the Dujiangyan Water Conservancy Project, and the cultures of Wenchang and Dayu left a lasting impression on the Taiwan youths.

Walking through Dujiangyan, all the young participants were profoundly moved by the wisdom of ancient people who, over 2,000 years ago, harnessed water by working in harmony with nature. Many Taiwan youths expressed amazement that the project remains functional today, admiring the ingenuity of the ancients who could construct such a beneficial water conservancy system in that era. They noted that witnessing it in person made the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture tangibly real.

The Two Bombs City in Zitong, Mianyang, is the former site of China's nuclear weapons research and development base, where the great cause of the "Two Bombs and One Satellite" was nurtured. A teacher surnamed Cai from Taiwan was deeply touched after hearing stories of older-generation researchers who worked anonymously to overcome technological barriers for the nation. At the Qiqu Mountain Grand Temple, which has carried forward the Wenchang cultural tradition for millennia, the Taiwan youths found a spiritual resonance in the reverence for literature and learning that transcends the Strait. At the Cross-Strait Dayu Cultural Exchange event held in Beichuan, many youths emotionally remarked that the memorial ceremony for Dayu was awe-inspiring, allowing them to personally witness the enduring legacy and flourishing development of Chinese culture.

At the Sanxingdui Museum, the mysterious and historically rich artifacts of the ancient Shu civilization gave the Taiwan youths a new perspective on traditional Chinese culture. They unanimously praised the mystery and creativity embedded in the ancient Shu civilization, describing the magnificent artifacts as truly spectacular. Summarizing the insights from this journey, one Taiwan youth said, "The beauty of Bashu lies not only in its natural landscapes but also in this continuous and inherited cultural lineage."