MAINLAND Chinese tourists flew out for Taiwan early today on the first regular direct service in decades, a milestone that is part of a dramatic recent thawing in ties between the long-time rivals.

The direct flights were a key component of a campaign promise made by new Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou to quickly improve relations with Beijing, which have rocky since the two sides split in 1949 at the end of a civil war.

The first flight, operated by China Southern Airlines, left the southern city of Guangzhou at 6:31am (8.31am AEST), China's state Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 100 mainland tourists were aboard the Airbus A330 flight, which was carrying a total of 258 passengers and was due to arrive at Taoyuan international airport outside Taipei at 8:10am (10.10am AEST), the report added.

"I have been expecting to visit Taiwan, the Treasure Island, and my dream will finally come true today," Chinese to...

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