A group of 20 pilgrims traveled from Taiwan to Meizhou in Fujian province to honor Mazu — a revered goddess of the sea who is worshipped on both sides of the Straits. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

"It was said that this year's Lantern Festival ceremony would be so grand that many members of our group took leave to attend," Wang said. "When people from both sides dined together, it indeed felt like a family reunion."

Yang Shih-hsuan, president of the Taiwan Chinese Taoist Federation, which organized the trip, couldn't agree more. "We were honored and excited," Yang said. "We returned to Meizhou after three years and residents received us warmly like relatives."

Before COVID-19, the federation organized trips from Taiwan to Meizhou for thousands of Mazu devotees every year, Yang said, adding that the federation will provide more services for Mazu devotees, and build a stronger bond for cultural exchanges between people on both sides.

Lin Jinzan, chairman of the Mazu Temple's board of directors in Meizhou who received the group from Taiwan, said the temple has worked with other Mazu temples in Taiwan over the years to host a range of cultural activities.

"People on both sides of the Straits are part of one family and the more we visit each other, the closer we get," Lin said, welcoming more people from Taiwan to Meizhou.

Hsu Cheng-yu, chairman of the Taiwan Taoism Culture Foundation who was a member of the visiting group, said that they will share their memories of the trip with more people in Taiwan.

"So many people participated in the grand ceremony in Meizhou. We should resume religious exchanges between the two sides," he said.