Taiwan couple sets down roots in mainland

An aquaculture base managed by Chiu Feng-li and her husband in Ningde, Fujian province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chiu Feng-li, who came to the Chinese mainland from Taiwan with her husband Kuo Chun-lang in 2004, hopes her son will also find career prospects in her new home.

"It has been 19 years since I came to the mainland. Seeing the rapid development of Ningde has been a shock," Chiu said. They came to Ningde, Fujian province to live and start a new business.

"At that time, my child was studying at a university in Fuzhou. We decided to come after hearing life in the mainland was good," she said.

Given that they were engaged in the aquaculture industry in Taiwan, the couple chose to continue their "old business" in their new home in Ningde - raising abalone.

In 2013, they switched to farming shrimp due to market fluctuations.

Chiu said they are usually very busy from May to October, needing to get up early in the morning and go home late at night.

"But the income is good. Our annual output value can reach about 1.5 million yuan ($217,000), " she said, adding their products are mainly sold in Fuzhou, Shenzhen, Shanghai and other big cities.

The local government in Ningde has been supportive, she said. "They have given us a lot of help."

Ningde, which is near Taiwan, has rolled out a series of measures to deepen cross-Strait economic and cultural exchanges .

At present, it has more than 100 Taiwan-invested enterprises in various industries such as metallurgy, food processing and breeding.

Several years ago, the couple made their move permanent and sold their house in Taiwan. Chiu expressed her wishes the next generation will take similar steps. "I hope my son can develop in the mainland in the future."