During a recent book launch event in Beijing for “Home Is Where the Heart Is: Taiwanese Youth’s Dream-Chasing Journey in Mainland China,” one of the featured individuals, Zhang Youfang, shared her story. The Taiwanese artist, who hails from New Taipei City, made her official debut in 2009 after participating in the mainland singing competition “Super Girl.” With over 20 years spent pursuing her music dreams in China, she has finally found her sense of home.
“The name ‘Liuzhi’ means ‘to take root’ in Minnan dialect, and I chose it for my studio because I hope to establish my roots here in the mainland,” Zhang remarked.
The new book tells the stories of 33 Taiwanese youths and highlights the unique paths they have taken in their quest for their dreams on the mainland. Although each person’s journey is distinct, a common sentiment prevails: “Home is where the heart finds peace.”
For architect Zhou Shining, his reason for moving to the mainland revolves around family ties. Born in Taipei, he moved to Shanghai at the age of six before studying in Canada and the U.S. At 29, he settled in Beijing and now serves as the deputy director of the Architectural Design Institute at the Beijing Architectural Design and Research Institute.
Zhou shared that his pursuit of dreams on the mainland is deeply rooted in his family’s history. His grandfather was originally from Ningbo, Zhejiang, and after spending decades in Taiwan, he fulfilled his dream of returning to the mainland in his 90s. Zhou’s grandfather dedicated his time to fostering cultural exchanges and philanthropy between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, while most of his artworks returned to their origins in Fuzhou. This familial connection has significantly influenced Zhou’s life path.
From a young age, Zhou developed a strong interest in Chinese architectural culture, which ultimately drew him to Beijing. In 2020, he married an artist from Wenzhou, Zhejiang, and the couple recently became new parents, continuing the ties between Taiwan and the mainland. He humorously quipped, “Maybe I am just a bridge myself.”
Beyond familial connections, the vast opportunities on the mainland are another compelling reason for Taiwanese youths to stay. Bai Fuping, a Taiwanese woman working at Beijing United Family Hospital, made the choice to move after studying in the United States. “This decision wasn’t made on a whim; it came after thorough investigation,” she explained.
Bai recounted her experiences interning in Shanghai during her studies and participating in various exchange programs. These opportunities allowed her to witness the rapid rise of the mainland market and the diverse prospects available for young people. In less than three years of working in Beijing, she progressed from a junior staff member to an assistant to the hospital director.
Similarly, Taiwanese youth Xu Chengying is also engaged in the healthcare field in Beijing. Inspired by her grandfather’s research in traditional Chinese medicine, she is committed to this path. After graduating from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, she became a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine. When asked why she came to the mainland to study and work, she stated, “The roots of traditional Chinese medicine lie here. The market is larger, allowing me to reach more patients and refine my skills.”
After living in Beijing for over a decade, Chen Wencheng, a Taiwanese professor at Peking University, cherishes his family life with his wife and two children. He expresses a strong desire for more exchanges between Taiwan and the mainland, advocating for young people to engage across the strait and foster open communication.
“We ‘returnees’ share our experiences of traveling, working, studying, and settling down in the mainland with our families in Taiwan, which could change their perceptions,” Bai noted. She emphasizes that cross-strait communication is not about grand narratives, but rather about everyday interactions. When she returned to her alma mater in Taiwan to discuss her experiences, she was surprised to find that about two-thirds of students raised their hands when asked how many used mainland social media.
Bai believes that cross-strait exchanges occur constantly, particularly in the era of new media, and she hopes that more Taiwanese youth will share their stories of perseverance on the mainland, allowing their peers back home to see a more authentic, accessible picture of life across the strait.
