I even received messages from strangers on both sides of the Strait, expressing hopes that more mainland athletes might visit Taiwan in the future.

The magic of sports lies in its ability to foster unity and interaction, enabling deep and genuine connections through shared effort and laughter.

I vividly recall my experience during last year's Dragon Boat Festival in Guangdong, where I participated in a cross-Strait exchange program.

My teammates included students from both Taiwan and the mainland. They paddled in sync with the rhythm of shouted commands. As the drummer, every beat I called out was met with the full effort of everyone on board. The trust and coordination we shared made us feel like one single entity.

After the race, we sat together on the riverbank, exchanging stories while eating zongzi (sticky rice dumplings), the traditional treat of the festival. At that moment, I realized that sports offer more than just the fleeting joys of victory — they create a profound sense of belonging and build emotional bridges across the Strait.

Beyond sports, these emotional connections are also woven into the details of everyday life.

Zhou Zhou, an exchange student from the Communication University of China in Beijing, told me that Taiwan's warm hospitality is one of the main reasons why mainland visitors find it so captivating.