Email to Friends
Comment (TAIPEI -- Hundreds of mainland Chinese tourists arrived in Taiwan yesterday on the first regular commercial flights in nearly six decades between the old foes.
A China Southern Airlines flight carrying 230 passengers touched down at Taoyuan International Airport in northern Taiwan, and fire trucks shot water at the first plane in a welcome gesture.
"From today onward, regular commercial flights will replace the rumbling warplanes over the skies of the Taiwan Strait, and relations between the two sides will become better and better," pilot Liu Shaoyun said after the 90-minute flight from Guangzhou in southern China. Mr. Liu is also chairman of the Chinese airline.
The Chinese passengers walked through an arch made of colourful balloons amid traditional dragon dances and greetings from giddy Taiwanese officials.
...