Mainland tourists big boon for Taiwan

The first tourist group from the Chinese mainland will set foot in Taiwan Friday next week. Many see this as a big boost for Taiwan's tourism industry, and a huge step forward for cross-Strait ties.

The Taiwan tourism industry will see the arrival of the first Chinese mainland tourist group on July 4th. Around 600 residents from Beijing, Tianjin, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hubei and 8 other regions and cities will be able to visit the island.

The first group to Taiwan is paying nearly 12,000 yuan for a 10-day tour. This is not cheap, but many consumers believe the trip is worth the price, and they will get what they paid for.

Zhang Qiufeng, Retired Engineer, said, "Mount Ali and Sun Moon Lake are the must-sees for me. I've been dreaming about the trip since I was a teenage, because there were lots of songs about the 2 places. And now it's finally becoming a reality."

For Chinese mainland residents, Mount Ali and Sun Moon Lake have a mysterious charm and many of them have been longing to visit them for nearly 60 years.

To ensure a good start, tour operators from both sides have designed many routes and packages, including various round-island trips, historical tours and scenic journeys.