Cross-Straits taekwondo contest kicks off in Pingtan

"Pingtan has seen rapid development, and the views here are great, in particular the well-preserved stone houses," he said.

Chang also added that it had been a rewarding trip for his team to take part in the event and that he would bring what he learned from taekwondo coaches and students on the mainland back with him to Taiwan.

The contest is an annual event which has been held for five consecutive years in Pingtan, and might be developed into a brand sports event in the future, giving a further impetus to the city's tourism development, according to Gao Yun, an official from Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone’s bureau of social affairs.

Pingtan, the closest city on the mainland to Taiwan, has been actively promoting closer cross-Straits ties by hosting a series of cultural and sports events in recent years. The city also holds cycling, swimming and sailing events for people from the mainland and Taiwan each year.

Contestants in two lines bow to each other in the sixth Cross-Straits Taekwondo Communication Contest in Pingtan, Fujian province on July 13. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Two contestants compete with each other in the sixth Cross-Straits Taekwondo Communication Contest in Pingtan, Fujian province on July 13. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]