The 3rd cross-Strait youth drama skills cultural exchange and experiencing summer camp opened in Xiamen of east China's Fujian Province on Thursday, bringing together more than 120 middle school teachers and students from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
The summer camp is scheduled to last six days, during which the young participants will learn, watch, perform drama and play games together.
Many of them were enthusiastic in Thursday's opening ceremony, expressing keen interest in exploring shared cultural heritage.
"I hope our interactions will get better and better, so that we can study different martial arts together and get to know different sects of both sides of the Strait," said Yao Youcheng, a student from Taiwan.
"I was very excited before we set off, because this is my first time in Xiamen. I look forward to communicating with people here and studying a different culture," said Zhang Xiangni, another Taiwan student.
Hung Chang-ning, chairwoman of the Taiwan Dance Arts Exchange Association, pointed out that the activity can help teenagers across the Strait build lasting friendship, discover common roots, and carry forward outstanding traditional Chinese culture.
"By living and working together, the teenagers who had met last year really wanted to see each other again this year. During the process, they shared their understanding of our Minnan culture with each other. Whether it's drama or martial arts, their communications will lead to more diverse elements within the culture," Hong said.
Minnan, literally southern Fujian, has considerable influence in Taiwan as many locals there originated in southern Fujian and speak Minnan dialect.
During the camp, students will also visit cultural landmarks in the cities of Xiamen and Putian to experience Fujian's intangible cultural heritage techniques and the Mazu culture.
Mazu, a central figure in the Minnan culture, is believed to be based on Lin Mo, a legendary woman from Meizhou Island of Fujian who lived in the 10th century and was later deified as a protector of seafarers.
Simultaneously, four short documentaries will be produced during the summer camp to record the stories of young people across the Taiwan Strait engaging in cultural exchanges and learning from each other.
Cross-Strait youth cultural exchange event opens in Xiamen
