Fang Shengguang, at fifth grade in the Chengzhong Primary School in Pingtan, is the school's first student from Taiwan.

At 8 pm on Sept 4, a tan, chubby boy entered fifth grade, class five at the Chengzhong Primary School in Pingtan and caused a stir among other pupils. The boy, named Fang Shengguang, is the school's first student from Taiwan.

Fang has integrated himself into the new learning environment there. "I am very happy, and I want to bring happiness to others," the little boy said in a mature way.

Taiwan uses traditional characters, which is different from the simplified Chinese on the mainland. Fang's classmates are very curious about the writing style of traditional Chinese characters, and Fang is willing to teach them.

Fang Shengguang (R3), at fifth grade in the Chengzhong Primary School in Pingtan, is the school's first student from Taiwan.

"I can understand the teaching materials here, which are almost the same with those in Taiwan," Fang said.

"Fang is very outgoing and receptive, and he gets along very well with others," said Lin Li, Fang's tutor.

Fang Yikun, the boy's father, said Fang used to go to Nanshi Primary School in Pingchen, Taoyuan county in Taiwan. Last year he went to Wucun Elementary School in Xiamen, Fujian province. He came to Pingtan this year.

"The Pinyin and traditional characters used in Taiwan are different from those on the mainland, but my boy adapted himself after half a year's study," Fang's father said with pride.

"After the establishment of the pilot zone, the educational departments issued policies to allow Taiwan students to enroll in neighborhood schools," said Wu Xiaohua, office director of the Education Committee of Pingtan county.

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Michael Thai