Hu Meidong and Li Dapeng  (China Daily 11/09/2004）

Jinmen and Matsu, two islands of Taiwan, are only 18 and 36 sea miles respectively from Xiamen and Fuzhou of mainland's Fujian Province, They have long been considered two important points for both the mainland and Taiwan on the Chinese map.

About 100 miles from Taiwan Island, Matsu lies even closer from mainland's Mawei, a port in Fuzhou. So in some places in Matsu Island, it is said that Fuzhou's cellphone service can work well without roaming.

However, due to the tough relations between the two sides across the Straits, few mainlanders have stepped on the two islands.

When the so-called "small three links" between the two islands and Fujian started in 2001, islanders have been looking forward to receiving mainland travellers.

To enhance cross-Straits communication further, Fujian Province said it would allow its residents to visit Jinmen and Matsu islands by the end of the year.

Fujian's Vice-Governor Wang Meixiang made the announcement when she met with officials from Jinmen and Matsu last month.

The much-anticipated tours have aroused great passion from Jinmen and Matsu authorities.

"The direct communication between Jinmen and Fujian have injected lots of energy into Jinmen's economy, which is also what Jinmen people have expected," said Li Zhufeng, head of Jinmen County.

Li said Jinmen's economy will surely benefit a lot once Fujian tourists set their feet on the island.

Chen Hsueh-Sheng, head of Lianjiang County in Matsu, said Matsu is improving its tourism facilities, services and transportation capacity to be well prepared for mainland residents.

So close, yet so far

For decades, as two of the closest Taiwan islands to the mainland, Jinmen and Matsu have been armed as important military bases by Taiwan authorities, which resulted in slow development of the local economy.

Measuring 10.4 square kilometres, Matsu was under martial control as a military outpost.

The military base was only partly opened to Taiwan people until 1994.

For a long time, soldiers on the island reportedly outnumbered local residents. Since the troops have been withdrawn from the island gradually in recent years, it is reported that there are now only 8,000 people living there, including civilians and soldiers. Most young people are said to have gone to Taiwan Island or other places to develop their careers.

Matsu authorities have decided to focus on the tourism industry. Some of the military buildings have been rebuilt into tourist attractions or other establishments for civilian use. For example, a well-known tunnel built originally for military use has been reconstructed into a wine cellar by a local winery.

Besides the special military view, Matsu also has amazing coastal scenery and an attractive culture featuring east Fujian's unique characteristics, Chen said.

According to Chen, in order to receive mainland tourists at the end of the year, Matsu will open the five islands in its four districts. Banks in the island are ready to deal with exchanging the renminbi for the many tourists from the mainland.

Also, both the local Jinmen and Matsu governments have applied to the Taiwan authorities for the right to approve mainland tourists' qualification to travel in the islands, aiming to reduce unnecessary obstacles.

Currently Matsu is only able to serve 1,000 tourists each day, mainly from Taiwan. Chen said Matsu has realized the problem and decided to build two more hotels on Lam-gan and Bak-gan islands to meet the accommodation needs of Fujian tourists.

As the same with Matsu, Jinmen has also made full preparation for the coming tourism exchange with the mainland. The county's head Li said all aspects have been readied, such as the integration of the travel agencies, adjustment of tour route prices and the improvement of the tourism facilities.

"We are ready to provide our best services to welcome the guests from Fujian," Li said.

Meanwhile, the mainland side is actively preparing tour packages. Fuzhou is rebuilding its Mawei Ferry Station to better services.

Actually, besides economic ties, the folk cultural exchanges across the Straits especially Mazu-related worship activities, have also been booming in these years, strengthening the relations between the two sides.

Initiated in Putian of Fujian and with a history of over 1,000 years, the Mazu belief has united millions of Chinese both at home and abroad.

The respect for Mazu, named as "Goddess of the Sea," has turned into a wide-spread belief with the passage of time. According to statistics, around two-thirds of the people in Taiwan believe in Mazu, and more than 800 Mazu temples are scattered on the island.

Every year, tens of thousands of Taiwan compatriots swarmed to Meizhou Island in Putian - the legendary place where Mazu was born - to dedicate themselves to Mazu at temples.

In May of 1989, 24 Taiwan fishing boats took 224 Mazu followers from Nan-Tien Temple in Yi-Lan County of Taiwan, arriving at Meizhou Island to pay pilgrimage to Mazu. It was the first direct voyage across the Straits after the People's Republic of China was founded in 1949.

Since then, dozens of voyages to Meizhou are taken in private by Taiwan people every year.

"In the wake of improving relations between both sides of the Straits, the unique Mazu pilgrim tours will undoubtedly break through the artificial wedge standing between the people on the two sides," said Yuan Jingui, an official in Putian.

Latest statistics show that in the recent 16 years, Mazu followers have made 1.3 million trips to Meizhou from Taiwan, making Meizhou Island a mainland place with the most Taiwan travellers.

Leading a group of Mazu followers, Huang Dianben, president of Puxian Fellow Association in Taipei, came to Meizhou to attend the "incense offering" ceremony during the Sixth China Meizhou Mazu Culture Tourism Festival recently held in Meizhou Island.

Huang told reporters that though the "small three links" have greatly facilitated the ability of Taiwan people to come to the mainland, he still wishes the real "three links" might be realized soon.

"People on the two sides of the Straits are members of one original family," Huang said.