Mainland life strikes a chord with musical couple

Chang Chia-hao (left) and Lin Chia-chen visit the Fuzhou Jinshan Park in Fuzhou, Fujian province, on March 15. LYU MING/FOR CHINA DAILY

"Let's build a romantic home together. Love is singing a touching song every day. You keep the wind and rain outside the universe, leaving a gentle and romantic home for us…" So goes the song Romantic Home.

Chang Chia-hao, 38, and Lin Chiachen, 31, know the lyrics well as they frequently sing the song and practice it together at home in Fuzhou, capital of East China's Fujian province.

The musicians from Taiwan have turned the study of their home into a piano room, where they arrange music and play instruments in their free time, pursuing their musical dreams on the mainland.

They call their rented apartment, which has three bedrooms and a living room, "a nest of romance". Despite its simple furniture and decor, the apartment serves as both home and musical workshop for Chang and Lin.

Lin, a violinist from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, stayed on campus as a music teacher after receiving her master's degree in violin performance, occasionally giving paid performances overseas.

In 2019, Lin was giving a performance in Cambodia when she met Chang — a native of Taoyuan in Taiwan — who was playing bass guitar in a different band.

Having the same aspirations and musical interests, they quickly fell in love and tied the knot in April 2021.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Chang had traveled around to give more performances in Asia than Lin. He sought personal career development opportunities in Fuzhou after being persuaded and introduced by friends from Taiwan, who had started a business in the city.

At the time, Chang was a well-known musician in Taiwan, and he once won the Best Bassist Award at the Yamaha Band Competition on the island. However, he had little business at home due to the pandemic.

"Fuzhou is very close to Taiwan, so I wanted to try life in the city," Chang said, adding that Lin fully supported his decision.

Since his arrival in Fuzhou, often called the "city of the banyan tree", Chang has worked as a music teacher for a local education group. The monthly rental subsidy provided by his employer has eased a lot of pressure in his life in Fuzhou.

At work, Chang immersed himself among his students. He quickly organized a band of musicians to perform at a local venue after work, and his name gradually became known in the city.

In January last year, Lin decided to join Chang in Fuzhou after hearing about his life in the city.

Chang said they had to ease the pain of lovesickness via phone calls every night during the six months they were separated.

Lin quickly joined a symphony orchestra composed of musicians from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The couple is now busy, but also full of joy in Fuzhou.

"The mainland's music market is large and diverse, with great creative freedom," Chang said. "For young musicians, there is great space for development in the mainland, and great opportunities."

During the 10th Straits Youth Day in May last year, Chang and Lin performed a folk song Moli Hua, or Jasmine Flowers, expressing the idea of "one family on both sides of the Taiwan Strait" through music. "I think I will see reunification across the Taiwan Strait," Chang said.

In addition to teaching, the couple plan to participate in more competitions and undertake many different performances in the coming years.

Chang said he will attend more exchange events between Taiwan and the mainland, and tell his friends in Taiwan about the situation and life on the mainland. He added that he and Lin will stay in the mainland for at least the next few years to develop their careers.