The 2024 World Internet Conference (WIC) Wuzhen Summit opens in Wuzhen, east China's Zhejiang Province, Nov. 20, 2024. (Xinhua)

"If you aspire to personal growth and seek a broader world in the future, remember to step beyond your own small space so as to venture outside your comfort zone. Don’t hesitate to come to the mainland to take a look," Ji Tianyu, a Taiwan youth and crosstalk performer, said to the Global Times, with a confident smile on her face.

On Wednesday, an industry dialogue on internet development took place during the ongoing 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit, in East China’s Zhejiang Province. The dialogue aimed to promote exchanges and cooperation among young people across the Taiwan Straits. 

In Wuzhen, Global Times reporters met several Taiwan-born students who are studying in Zhejiang and Shanghai. Their journey to the Chinese mainland not only indicates the opportunities that are available for young Taiwan people in the mainland but also the valuable insights and experiences for those aspiring to develop their careers in the mainland. Their stories serve as an inspiration for many young people looking to bridge the gap between Taiwan and the mainland, fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding.

As young Taiwan residents continue to explore opportunities in the Chinese mainland, their voices resonate with a shared hope for collaboration and growth across the Straits. Experts said exchanges between young people from the Chinese mainland and the Taiwan island are a fantastic way to energize cross-Straits relations as well as peaceful and integrated development.

Step out of comfort zone

Born and raised in Taipei, Ji now works as a young crosstalk performer in Weifang, East China’s Shandong Province. Having had a passion for crosstalk since childhood, she moved to the mainland in 2008 to develop her skills and launch her career.

“If you hope to have room for growth and a broader future, remember to step out of your comfort zone and come to the mainland," Ji said, urging her peers in Taiwan to explore more possibilities firsthand in the Chinese mainland. 

“My goal is to establish a cross-Straits performing arts development base to provide more platforms for young performers, whether they choose to stay in the mainland or bring their skills back to Taiwan,” Ji said.

Buzzwords from mainland becoming popular in Taiwan

Que Yuxuan, a native of Hsinchu, Taiwan, owns a bubble tea shop in the heart of Wenzhou, Zhejiang. According to Que, as well as serving popular beverages, she also acts as a cross-Straits cultural bridge. Since relocating to the Chinese mainland in 2018 to pursue her studies at Southwest University of Finance and Economics, Que has immersed herself in the local lifestyle. Now, as a successful entrepreneur and social media influencer, Que is dedicated to guiding young Taiwan people who are seeking opportunities for education and work in the mainland.

“I've noticed that many young people in Taiwan are eager to explore the opportunities offered by the mainland,” Que explains. “That’s why I want to provide them with useful information to help bridge the information gap.” Her efforts come at a time when mainland social media platforms like Douyin and Xiaohongshu are gaining significant traction in Taiwan.

Que said that many buzzwords in the mainland's internet are also popular now in Taiwan. High school and college students in Taiwan often use phrases like "i people, e people," "social anxiety," and "social butterflies." In the past, what was popular in the mainland would often take a while to spread to Taiwan, but now young people in Taiwan can immediately "keep up with the trends," she said.

Reflecting on her decision to settle in Wenzhou, Que shared her appreciation for the local culture, climate, and cuisine, which closely resemble those of her homeland. "Having spent six years in the mainland, I believe my personal growth has been remarkably rapid," she said. "The speed of progress here in the mainland is far greater than in Taiwan."

Que said that the fast-paced economic development in the mainland coupled with the positive social influence around her, has motivated her to continuously improve herself, embrace learning, explore new challenges, and face failures without fear.

Growing community of Taiwan entrepreneurs in the mainland

Que's entrepreneurial journey in Wenzhou was partly inspired by Pan Boquan, who has been instrumental in helping young people from Taiwan to establish themselves in the mainland.

Over the past four years, Pan and his team have facilitated the establishment of over 30 Taiwan enterprises and supported more than 40 Taiwan young people in settling in Wenzhou. Pan, who boasts a network of 3,700 friends on WeChat, revealed that over 80 percent of his connections are from the mainland. Many of his friends from Taiwan are inspired by his increasingly "glamorous" lifestyle, which has prompted them to consider visiting the mainland for opportunities.

Zhejiang authorities are hoping to organize some recruitment fairs, in a bid to further support young people from Taiwan to start their businesses in the mainland. According to Pan, various major internet companies will provide attractive job opportunities at these events. 

Echoing Pan, Chen Hengyi, a first-year graduate student at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, told the Global Times that he believes the artificial intelligence in the mainland is more advanced than in Taiwan. “I am currently studying digital law, which is related to this field. It's evident that there are greater employment opportunities in the mainland,” Chen said.