With the Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, a grand gala featuring strong Taiwan flavors was staged at the Sand Sculpture Park in Pingtan, Fujian province on Sept 13.

"This year's gala had a raft of breakthroughs and innovations when comparing with previous ones," said Xu Henghai, executive president of Pingtan Cross-Straits Youth Entrepreneurship Association. "Taiwan characteristics were integrated into the gala for the first time.”

A large mooncake composed of two halves patterned with Pingtan Kylin Island and Taiwan Island respectively was displayed during the gala, symbolizing the reunion of Chinese mainland and Taiwan at the traditional Chinese festival.

Famous singers from both Chinese mainland and Taiwan took to the stage as well as dancing, poetry recitals, instrumental performances, a lantern riddle guessing game and a cheongsam (Chinese traditional dress) fashion show. All the performances were held in front of the back drop of the park's sand sculptures.

The gala was sponsored by the administrative committee of Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone and undertaken by Pingtan Committee of the CPPC, Pingtan Cross-Straits Youth Entrepreneurship Association, Pingtan Rural Commercial Bank and Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone Tourism Group.

Taiwan singers perform on the stage. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]