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Lien Chan pays nostalgic visit to birthplace
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2005-05-01 08:43 Visiting Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party Chairman
Lien Chan made a nostalgic visit Saturday to Xi'an, capital of northwest China's
Shaanxi Province, as well as the city where Lien was born and spent his
childhood.
Flocks of local people, waving flags and banners, lined
the streets to welcome the KMT leader.
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Taiwan KMT Chairman Lien Chan(C) and wife Lien
Fang-yu(R2), daughter Lien Hui-hsin(R1) pose for photograph before
the famous 2000-year-old Terricota Warriors in Xi'an
as Lien came to the third stop of his "Trip for Peace" in
the Chinese mainland April 30, 2005.
[newsphoto]
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Xi'an is the third leg on Lien's eight-day mainland tour. The 68-year-old
Lien was born in Xi'an in 1936 and left the city eight years later.
"Childhood is the most beautiful and valuable period of time for anyone under
whatever circumstances," said Lien.
Lien said he wished to trace some childhood recollection during his stay in
the city. He was greeted at the airport by students and teachers from Houzaimen
Primary School, where he had studied more than six decades ago.
Although his childhood memories were mostly related to the wartime chaos as
China was then suffering an invasion by Japan, the scenes, people and primary
school education in Xi'an have lingered in his mind throughout the years, said
Lien.
"Xi'an not only belongs to China, but also has become a world cultural
heritage site representing a long-standing spirit," said Lien. He called Xi'an
"our ancient cultural capital" and "an embodiment of the amalgamation of varied
cultures and nationalities" for its location at the start of the Silk Road.
"We are very much enlightened by the long-standing and tolerant spirit of
Xi'an," said Lien. He called for a "bright and beautiful future" for the Chinese
nation on the basis of more understanding and mutual trust across the Taiwan
Straits.
At about 3 p.m., Lien arrived at the Houzaimen Primary School and watched art
performances by students and teachers. He brought some gifts to the school,
including a history book on Taiwan and his own works titled "Only Changes Bring
Hopes."
In his speech, Lien expressed the hope that his "young schoolmates" would
cherish their peaceful childhood, since his own was marred by war and chaos. The
school gave him a seven-meter-long roll-painting depicting Chang'an, one of the
oldest Chinese capitals which is located somewhere close to today's Xi'an.
Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) Party Chairman Lien Chan visits the museum of
terracotta soldiers and horses in Xi'an.
At about 5 p.m. Lien went to the famous Terra-cotta Museum, known as the
"Eighth Miracle of the World." Lien was allowed to stand close to the
terra-cotta warriors and horses dating back to the Qin Dynasty (221-206 B.C.),
with Museum Curator Wu Yongqi as his guide. Lien was presented with a rare gift
-- a piece of earth taken from the tomb, which carries prints of ancient
craftsmen creating the miracle.
At the end of the visit at the tomb, Lien wrote an inscription for the
museum. It reads, "The Qin Tomb visit stirs my emotion for the people, and I
have crossed the Straits for a win-win deal."
In the evening, Lien held a meeting with Li Jianguo, secretary of the Shaanxi
Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China. The provincial party chief
also hosted a banquet for Lien and his 60-member delegation.
Lien, who arrived in the mainland on Tuesday, is expected to visit his
grandmother's tomb on Sunday before flying to Shanghai, the last stop of his
eight-day journey. He is leaving the mainland on May 3.
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