Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau Compatriots Gather in Yinchuan

The event, titled “Hearts Together, Building Dreams — Walking Hand in Hand,” was organized by the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Ningxia Committee, the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Ningxia Committee, and the Federation of Trade Unions of the Yinchuan Economic and Technological Development District. Participants took part in tug-of-war competitions, recreational baseball matches, and speeches sharing personal stories of living and working in the region.

Building Bonds Through Team Sports and Shared Experiences

On the grass of the Yinchuan campsite park, rope lines pulled taut as participants cheered during the morning competitions. Zhang, a participant originally from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, described the energy of the tug-of-war event where her team secured first place. “We pulled together and laughed, just like a family,” she said, noting that she still felt her hands trembling slightly from gripping the rope.

Organizers structured the gathering to blend recreational sports with networking and cultural exchange. Alongside traditional team games like tug-of-war, participants tried out modified baseball matches. For many attendees, including Macao resident Guan Liping, it was their first time holding a bat. Guan, who has lived in Ningxia for six years, noted that she initially had to adjust to local northwest cuisine but has since grown to love the regional dishes.

Guan recalled how a local neighbor stepped in to cook and deliver meals to her doorstep when she fell ill, highlighting the warm reception she experienced in Yinchuan. “Today was my first time playing baseball, and people right next to me taught me how,” Guan said. “The women there were exceptionally kind, and we slowly became friends.”

Personal Stories Highlight Regional Integration and Cultural Ties

During the event’s speaking session, Jin Puyang, an employee at Ningxia Huikai Science and Technology Development Corporation who works at a Taiwan-funded enterprise, shared her transition from initial uncertainty to professional confidence. Through daily collaboration with managers and technical experts from Taiwan, Jin stated that she developed a deeper appreciation for shared cultural roots between both sides.

“Though working habits may vary, everyone shares the exact same starting point and initial drive to build and create,” Jin said. “Working side by side helped us clear away unfamiliarity and deepen our understanding, forging strong bonds among colleagues.” She added that she aims to serve as a bridge for future exchanges, sharing Ningxia’s economic development with her Taiwan-born colleagues while learning from their operational experience.

For Zhang, baseball offered a chance to guide her teammates, many of whom were learning the rules and running bases for the first time. Drawing on her familiarity with the sport from her years in Kaohsiung, Zhang coached her peers from the sidelines, calling out plays and keeping the atmosphere light.

Celebrating Traditional Festivals Away From Home

The gathering coincided with the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival. Following the daytime events, Zhang spent the evening sharing a holiday dinner with her mother.

“In Taiwan, everyone loves to barbecue outside on Mid-Autumn night,” Zhang said. “Here, we followed local customs and simply had some mooncakes and a home-cooked meal. The form is different, but the meaning of reunion remains the same.”

Event organizers stated that the program aimed to underscore themes of family ties across regions, labor innovation, and the personal journeys of workers in Ningxia, reinforcing the shared goal of building communities together through cultural and athletic engagement.