Writers from both sides of the Taiwan Straits gather in Pingtan to attend the book club event.

A cultural book club and field trip recently brought together nearly 100 writers, scholars, and artists from across the Taiwan Straits to explore Pingtan, the closest place on the Chinese mainland to the island of Taiwan renowned for its dramatic coastal landscapes, rich seafaring history, and deep cultural ties to Taiwan.

The event, titled "Reading Pingtan, Discovering Stone Sail," marked the launch of Opening Fujian: Pingtan Volume. Held in Qingfeng Village of Pingtan, the gathering combined author talks with guided tours—offering a fresh glimpse of an island on the rise as a cultural-tourism hotspot.

Decoding Pingtan: Where history meets the sea

Opening Fujian: Pingtan Volume is part of a larger cultural project. The 10-volume series explores the unique identity of the region, with Pingtan standing out as a small but deeply significant piece of the puzzle.

"Pingtan is small in size but incredibly unique," said Yang Jialan, a member of the book's editorial board and consultant to the Fujian Writers Association. He noted that the island's culture is a rich tapestry woven from the Austronesian prehistoric heritage, maritime Silk Road history, fishing traditions, coastal defense, and local pioneering spirit.

Unlike traditional field-trip anthologies that focus purely on personal impressions, this book adopts a grand narrative style, blending literary prose with historical accuracy. In his preface, History Chose Pingtan, Yang attributes the island's modern evolution to a "triple harmony of natural laws, geographical advantages, and human effort".

For many involved, the book reshapes how people perceive the island. "Before working on this manuscript, my impression of Pingtan was limited to popular travel labels like 'Blue Tears' and 'stone houses,'" shared Chen Yuhan, one of the book's editors. "But standing here, feeling the sea breeze, those words come alive. The sea here isn't just scenery—it is life itself."

Books as bridges across the Straits

Writers from both sides of the Taiwan Straits pose for a group photo in Pingtan after the book club event.

A highlight of the gathering was a cross-Straits book-sharing session. Local writers and residents from Taiwan took turns reading excerpts from the new book before exchanging favorite literary works.

"The beauty of book-sharing lies in the trust and connection it builds," said Wu Jingjun, a participant from Taiwan. She described how a similar practice works in Taiwan, where books are left on park benches or in cafes with no tracking—relying instead entirely on a shared love of reading. "Now, this literary spirit has drifted to Pingtan," she said. "When a traveler picks up a book on the beach or a child finds a storybook in a traditional stone house, these pages become a soft bridge connecting us all."

Preserving local voices and looking ahead

Writers from both sides of the Taiwan Straits exchange books with one another.

The creation of Opening Fujian: Pingtan Volume was a meticulous process involving generations of writers. Zhou Erxing, executive editor-in-chief of Fujian Xiangtu, described the book as "a love letter to Pingtan and an icon presented to the world". Authors spent months visiting remote villages, interviewing elderly residents to record oral histories, and cross-referencing local archives to ensure historical accuracy.

The project also welcomed fresh voices, including local primary school teacher Ding Xiaoling. "I teach children about our homeland every day, and I wanted to use my own pen to tell Pingtan's stories to a wider audience," she said.

Following the literary gathering, participants visited some of Pingtan's most iconic landmarks, including the striking Shipaiyang (Stone Sail) Scenic Area and the Keqiutou Site Museum, tracing the landscapes that inspired the book.

Through seven chapters ranging from ancient prehistoric roots to the modern drive toward maritime development, Opening Fujian: Pingtan Volume captures an island moving forward on the waves, forever anchored by its rich history and shared cultural bonds.