Taiwan compatriots visit Qingshan Temple in Huian county, Quanzhou, Fujian province, on Nov 1. LI SHANGYI/CHINA DAILY
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As the Chinese idiom goes, fallen leaves return to their roots. For Chen Chien-hsing, a Taiwan-born descendant of mainland migrants, that saying carries a deeply personal meaning. Chen hopes to fulfill his father's long-held wish by bringing his ashes back to their ancestral home in Fuzhou, Fujian province, within his lifetime.
Over the past two decades, Chen, 68, has returned to Fuzhou several times. For this second-generation descendant of mainland migrants, what started as a search for family roots has gradually evolved into a return to a place he now also considers home.
"Chinese people place great importance on family lineage and heritage,"Chen said. "It's an emotional bond we naturally carry. That's why I keep coming back to Fujian."
Chen's experience is far from unique. Ferries traveling from Taiwan-governed Jinmen to Xiamen in Fujian, a major gateway for Taiwan residents entering the mainland, often carry passengers making similar journeys in search of their roots or to reconnect with relatives.
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