Kang Guilin originating from Pingtan, Chinese mainland’s closest neighbor of Taiwan and a daughter-in-law of Taiwan returned to her hometown, vowing to pass down lampbrellas and bridge cross-Straits ties.

In 2018, Kang set up two sightseeing workshops in Pingtan. All the lampbrellas were shipped via Haixia, a high-speed ferry shuttling between Pingtan and Taiwan.

Pingtan, also an island, is abundant in seashells and Pingtan Shell Carving, a provincial intangible cultural heritage impressed her. She came up with the idea of the combination, displaying shared roots across the Taiwan Straits.

Shell Carving Lantern is based on the prototype of Shipaiyang Rock Sails, a wondrous granite on the island of Pingtan.

Schools in Pingtan are now working with Kang to bring the lantern culture, and techniques to students.

Kang Guilin illustrated by Zhao Shuhe

Kang also invited Huang Xinrong, a painter from Taiwan to introduce the development of the traditional Chinese culture in Taiwan with his paintings to tourists.

Kang hopes to make more traditional lanterns with cross-Straits elements that tell stories about the two sides of the Straits for closer integration.