Chinese tourists rush to sneak a peek of Taiwan

Chinese tourists flock to the upper decks of a crowded cruise to catch a glimpse of democratic Taiwan, as its election determines its future ties with China.

An intercom blares out on the crowded cruise, sending Chinese tourists racing to the upper decks for a glimpse of what they’ve all come to see: democratic, self-ruled Taiwan.

That island has entered the final stretch of a dramatic, ill-tempered election campaign — closely watched from Washington to Beijing as the winner will determine the future of Taiwan’s ties with China.

The word “Taiwan” rang out regularly as travel guides and visitors descended from large coaches to a beach onto a Chinese coast to squint out at the distant sight of grey shapes in the narrow strait.

“Cheap tickets for a look toward Taiwan’s Kinmen island!” a beach vendor standing next to binoculars on a tripod shouted through a loudspeaker.

Curious tourists peered through binoculars, trying to spot the landmarks across the strait.

Aboard a three-storey sightseeing boat on Thursday for a leisurely cruise past the Kinmen Islands, administered by Taiwan and at the nearest point just under five kilometre from the mainland, one tourist said he agreed.

“I hope the motherland can be united at an early date,” Huang Ling, a 41-year-old tourist from China’s central Hubei province, said. “There’d be many benefits. A prosperous country and strong people,” he said. “Although Taiwan is separate over there, they’re still Chinese people, our brothers and sisters.