The first group of Chinese free independent travelers (FIT) set to arrive in Taiwan said during a public appearance on Saturday that they were excited about their upcoming visit.
Seventy-year-old Guo Guixiang (郭桂香) and 10 of her family members will be among the first independent Chinese travelers who will fly to Taiwan from Beijing tomorrow.
She said that although all 34 members of her extended family were interested in visiting Taiwan, only 11 of them could make it this time because of the limited daily -number of people allowed to make the trip.
Guo, who has already traveled to Taiwan twice in the past with tour groups, said her family plans to visit her cousin in Taiwan and spend some quality time together, something she said she was unable to do on her previous visits because she was not allowed to leave her tour groups.
Guo said after learning about the FIT program, she immediately asked her family to sign up for it, adding that she was now so excited she cannot sleep. Guo said her family will also visit scenic spots such as Alishan (阿里山) and Sun Moon Lake (日月潭).
Fifty-year-old Ma Qingsheng (馬慶生) will also be one of the first Chinese to visit Taiwan under the FIT program. Ma, whose son is attending a university in Taiwan, said he registered for the program online in April and only secured a spot after a two-month wait.
Ma said he intends to stay in Taiwan for six days. In addition to visiting Taipei, Hualien and -Kenting National Park, he also plans to take a good look at the lives of Taiwanese.
Liao Shuai (廖帥), a Taiwanese graduate of Beijing’s Peking University, will also board the flight tomorrow, with his girlfriend Li Huan (黎歡). Liao, in his 20s, said that besides meeting his parents, he would also show Li around Danshui and take her to the Shilin night market.
Li, a doctoral student, said her boyfriend often brings her snacks such as pineapple cakes from Taiwan and that she is keen to taste -Taiwan’s fruit during her visit, to see if it is as good as her boyfriend describes.
Retiree Sun Xiaolan (孫曉蘭) said she has never been to Taiwan, but has always been very interested in the art collections at the National Palace Museum.
Sun, a history graduate, said her motivation for traveling to Taiwan is to see the landscape scroll Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, a painting that was split into two several centuries ago and is now being displayed in its entirety at the museum.
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