Pingtan, the closest point on the Chinese mainland to the island of Taiwan and a key pilot zone for cross-Straits integration, is home to a special landmark that bridges two sides of the Taiwan Straits—a renovated 1960s stone house known as "Loutaihui," meaning "Shanglou Village Meets Taiwan."

Nestled at No. 152-1 Shanglou Village, the stone house was first built in 1963 by Ding Daren's father, who collected stones from nearby mountains with the young Ding's help. Following a local tradition of leaving a section of the wall unfinished—symbolizing hopes for a growing family—the house was expanded three times over the years, witnessing Ding's marriage and the success of his four children, two of whom became college graduates, a rare achievement in the village at the time. "This house holds so many fond memories," Ding shared. "Sitting here to write, surrounded by its old charms, truly calms me."

The house's transformation began in 2016 when Shanglou Village became Pingtan's first cross-Straits integrated community pilot. Taiwan compatriots proposed repurposing the old residence into a physical space for exchanges, and in late 2022, Fu Taocheng from Taiwan took over its operation. While preserving the house's rustic architecture, Fu renovated the floors, repainted the walls, and added a small stage, a calligraphy room, and a large red-lacquered table in the main hall—designed to encourage open conversations. "Our main goal is to foster more connections between Taiwan compatriots and local villagers," Fu explained.

Ding embraced the change wholeheartedly. "I'm extremely proud that my family home has become a carrier of friendship between compatriots on both sides of the Straits," he said, adding that his family fully supports the initiative. He now visits the calligraphy room daily to practice writing and tends to the vegetables and flowers in the courtyard, which also features a pomegranate tree symbolizing reunion and unity.

The "Loutaihui" has spawned tangible cooperative projects. Fu, who has settled in Pingtan as a "new farmer," jointly developed a white jade snail breeding project with the village covering 10 mu (about 0.67 hectares). He also encouraged his brother Fu Taowen to start a bakery, bringing authentic pineapple cake craftsmanship from Taiwan to the village. The brothers adapted the recipe with local Pingtan ingredients and launched the "Shanglou Youli" (Shanglou Gifts) cultural and creative brand. "The response has been good—many tourists come specifically for our products," Fu noted.

Today, the historic stone house, once a private family home, serves as a vibrant hub for cross-Straits cultural exchanges and community activities, embodying the warmth of integration through daily interactions and shared endeavors.