From July 26 to 31, the six-day “Immersing in Cultural Sichuan” program for Taiwan youth was successfully held. The Taiwan compatriots traveled deep into Ziyang, Chengdu, Ya’an, and Leshan in Sichuan, traversing the natural landscape and immersing themselves in cultural treasures. Laughter and cheerful voices filled the journey, and splendid views unfolded before their eyes. Splendid Sichuan welcomed the Taiwan youth from across the Strait with open arms.

As the plateau’s outlying ranges slope downward, towering peaks rise like natural ramparts around the fertile basin of Sichuan. Among them stand Mount Emei, Mengding Mountain, and Mount Qingcheng, renowned as the “Three Great Mountains of Shu”, each endowed by nature with its own distinctive charm. During the program, the Taiwan guests climbed Mengding Mountain and Mount Emei, where they experienced the spiritual charm and vitality of the Shu region amid the fragrance of tea and the artistry of martial arts.

In Chengdu, the Taiwan guests visited the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding to see their “old friends”. The adorably charming giant pandas chewed bamboo leaves and rolled back and forth, drawing laughter and squeals of delight from the visitors. Through these endearing creatures, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait found a soft yet steadfast symbol of reunion.

In addition to the giant pandas, Three Kingdoms culture also sparked great interest among the group. As they listened to the commentary of Li Zhi, chief docent at Wuhou Shrine, history seemed to come alive from the pages of textbooks. After the tour, Li Zhi said, “Helping our Taiwan compatriots experience Chengdu’s Three Kingdoms culture and feel the deep resonance between us can enhance our shared pride in national culture. That is precisely the purpose and significance of my work as a cultural heritage professional.”

The dust of history had not yet settled when the fragrance of tea wafted over from Ya’an. A pot of tea brews unveils the cultural fragrance shared by both sides of the Strait. Like this journey, which ranged from pandas to the Three Kingdoms and from Tibetan tea to daily life, the stories of Sichuan and the memories of Taiwan are distinct, yet deeply intertwined. Ultimately, they settle at the bottom of the same cup, leaving a sweet aftertaste of shared journeys and a common path.

As the journey drew to a close, the night fell softly like water, and the lights glowed warm and gentle. Though reluctant to part, they made plans to meet again. Xiao Chen had already mapped out his next destination: he looked forward to going deep into western Sichuan to explore the plateau scenery and ethnic customs.

Sichuan, the Land of Abundance, is a place of natural beauty and cultural splendor. A single journey can hardly do it justice, and the same is true of cross-Strait exchanges. Our doors are always open, and our lights are always on. The invitation across the Strait has never wavered. Mountains and rivers will meet again, and so will we. The journey may end, but our hearts are already looking forward to the next reunion.