The 2025 Cross-Strait Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, themed "The Moon Shines Brightest Over Our Homeland", was successfully held on Sunday evening in Dongshan County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province.
Centered on the concept of "same roots, same origin, shared homeland," the event drew on Dongshan's distinctive natural scenery and cultural heritage to stage performances that evoked emotional resonance and collective memory among people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the global Chinese community.
The gala unfolded in three chapters - Moonlight, Emotional Bonds, and Dreams Fulfilled. It opened with young soprano Wang Li performing "Moon Over the Sea," setting a tone of longing for home. Fisherman-poet Xu Haiqin from Aojiao Village recited his piece "A Hold Full of Catch," capturing the spirit of perseverance in Dongshan and conveying a deep sense of cultural belonging.
One of the founders of Taiwan's campus folk music movement, Yeh Chia-hsiu, performed the classic "Grandma's Penghu Bay," stirring shared memories across the Strait. Renowned Taiwan singer Yeh Chi-tien followed with "Those Who Strive Will Win," highlighting the common spirit of determination among Minnan people.
"Every festival is very important to us Chinese people. I'm very happy that at several Mid-Autumn Festival galas I've been able to stand here and sing 'Grandma's Penghu Bay' and 'Country Road' to Taiwan. It's a truly wonderful feeling," said Yeh.
"This gala is not only a cultural exchange, but also a resonance of the heart. May such moonlight shine often, and may such reunions endure," said Tsai Ho-li, a compatriot from Taiwan.
Mid-Autumn Festival gala fosters shared heritage, emotional cross-Strait connection
A former television host from Taiwan, Zhai Xuan, has made a pivotal decision to leave mainstream broadcasting in order to create content that provides a better understanding of the Chinese mainland and cross-strait relations.
Zhai, a seasoned television host with over a decade of experience in Taiwan's media landscape, recently addressed an audience at an event in Beijing, where she revealed her complete transition into independent online media.
In her remarks, she articulated her aspiration to bridge what she perceives as a significant information gap between audiences on both sides of the Strait, highlighting her commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and connection through her new endeavors.
"I was really surprised by all the fake news. There were stories saying people on the mainland can't afford tea eggs or that they live in mud houses and in Taiwan, this was the main information many people received," said Zhai.
Zhai said she initially began producing online videos to challenge such perceptions while continuing her work as a television host.
In April 2025, she travelled to the mainland with her father to fulfill her late grandfather's wish to return to his hometown. The trip, which reunited family members separated since 1949, was recorded in a video series titled "Journey to Find Our Roots", drawing attention from viewers in both Taiwan and the mainland.
"Many people in Taiwan told me that after watching, they wanted to apply for a mainland travel permit immediately and go looking for their relatives. Some had long forgotten these things, but after seeing my story, they began thinking about their hometowns and family members they had never met and decided to search for their roots," Zhai shared her story at the event.
By mid-2025, Zhai said she began to feel increasing pressure amid rising political tensions and a tightening atmosphere around cross-Strait exchanges in Taiwan.
After more than 12 years in the industry, Zhai resigned from her position, believing it was the right thing to do.
"At that moment, I felt this was a major issue，not just for me, but for Chinese people on both sides of the Strait. If I backed down then, I wouldn’t be standing on the right side," said Zhai.
Since leaving television, Zhai has broadened her online programming to encompass a range of daily-life topics, including practical guidance on applying for a mainland travel permit and using commonly employed mobile applications, in addition to content that delves into historical memory and cultural connections across the Strait.
As the debate over cross-Strait relations continues in Taiwan, Zhai said she remains committed to her current path.
Former Taiwan TV host bridges cross-Strait divide via online media
