Praise the heavens. Mainland tourist: It’s such a pity Taiwan wasn’t ‘reclaimed’ by the Communists back then.

Reported by reporter Li Anjun / Taipei

The most popular phrase of 2012 was “the most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is its people,” which readers are no stranger to. Recently, however, a mainland tourist visiting Taiwan bluntly stated: “It’s such a pity Taiwan wasn’t ‘reclaimed’ by the Communists back then.”

Everyone, don’t get upset just yet—this statement has context. A mainland tourist named Xiaoping, who traveled around Taiwan staying in homestays and experiencing local life, wrote on her personal blog about her experience: “None of my friends who have been to Taiwan have said they didn’t like it. I came, and I ended up falling in love—with a deep, heartfelt love.”

▲ “Say It Still” in Hualien is one of the homestays most loved by mainland tourists, with a history of 60 years. It was a clinic during the Japanese colonial period, and the elderly doctor, now over ninety, still lives nearby. This place captures little bits and pieces of Taiwan’s evolution—a truly charming homestay. (Photo / Xiao Long)

“I encourage my friends and siblings to visit Taiwan if they have the chance, to see what a land not under Party rule is like, to see what its people are like… As fellow descendants of the Chinese nation, people on the mainland under the Communists, people in Taiwan under the Kuomintang, and people in Hong Kong under British colonial rule are vastly different. Mainlanders seem to lack a bit of manners and courtesy. Hongkongers are a bit arrogant, but Taiwanese are polite and full of love, treating fellow Chinese as one of their own, without an ounce of condescension… Honest, down-to-earth Taiwan is exactly my cup of tea.”

▲ Mainland tourist Zhu Jing (left), traveling independently in Taiwan, fell deeply in love with the island. Xiaoping (left in the right image) even wrote on her blog: “Simple, unspoiled Taiwan is exactly my kind of place.” The homestay owner Xiao} (center) also introduced her to trying oyster omelets and fried scallion pancakes. (Photo / Provided by Xiao})

Xiaoping is an independent traveler who previously visited Hualien and stayed at the Japanese-style old house homestay “Say It Still.” This homestay has a 60-year history, and its owner, Xiao}, is adorable and loves chatting with guests, especially those from the mainland. She enjoys hearing their impressions of Taiwan. Xiao} laughs and says: “That phrase ‘the most beautiful scenery in Taiwan is its people’ really resonates with them. At night, we’d all chat about how wonderful Taiwan is.”

▲ P.S.: Singer Jeff Chang, who loves vintage things, once stayed here. (Photo / Xiao Long)

Xiaoping said: “In Hualien, we met two sisters who were also traveling by car. They voluntarily asked if we wanted to go to a night market farther away, and they were willing to give us a ride. In Hengchun, the homestay owner drove us to the station early in the morning, before five o’clock. Just when I thought he had left, I saw him come back and buy us breakfast. The homestay owner in Alishan knew we were in a hurry, so he ran to the roadside to help us flag down a bus, even changed our fare into exact change, taught us how to enjoy Alishan, and treated everyone like a friend.”

▲ This group of mainlanders from the northeast had never seen an old house like this before. They peeked in from the doorway, and Xiao} invited them to stay temporarily. Everyone chatted all night about the warmth and kindness of Taiwanese people, and no one wanted to sleep. (Photo / Provided by Xiao})

Zhu Jing also shared her Taiwan travel experiences with Xiao}: “We traveled from Taipei to Jiufen. We ended up buying so many clothes along the way that we had two big bags. The Jiufen homestay owner, knowing we still had to travel through Hualien, Kenting, Alishan, Sun Moon Lake, Taichung, and back to Taipei, kindly offered to deliver the two big bags of clothes directly to our Taipei homestay, so we wouldn’t have to drag so much luggage.”

“Say It Still” has a guestbook,and the owner Xiao} will also help guests mail postcards. “It’s such a pity Taiwan wasn’t ‘reclaimed’ by the Communists.” That’s the most classic line. “Actually, they’re saying the opposite on purpose—the real meaning is that Taiwan is just amazing. It’s fortunate it wasn’t reclaimed, so it could preserve such warm human connections.”