Fireworks Bloom in the Sky: Joint Fireworks Display Between Xiamen and Kinmen, Two Shores Celebrate the Festival Together

Fujian, February 18. The night sky was brilliantly colored on Tuesday by a magnificent joint fireworks display between China’s coastal city of Xiamen and the nearby Kinmen Island. More than 40,000 fireworks were set off during this display held to celebrate the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year).

The 30-minute event began at 8 p.m. on the first day of the Year of the Horse, with fireworks being launched simultaneously from both Xiamen and Kinmen. Remarkably, the shortest distance between these two locations is less than 2 kilometers.

This annual program, initiated in 1987, has now become an established tradition highlighting the close relationship between the two cities. A large crowd of locals and tourists alike gathered along the waterfronts on both sides to enjoy the fireworks accompanied by festive music. Kinmen residents also performed a traditional lion dance to exchange good wishes on the occasion of the Chinese New Year.

A young man from Kinmen, Chang Yang-yang, had the opportunity to watch the joint fireworks display for the third time this year. He emotionally stated, “When fireworks are set off together from both sides, it conveys the message that we are one family.”

For Taiwanese businessman Han Ying-huan, who resides in Xiamen, this joint display held special significance. “Compatriots on both sides of the strait are eager for integration and wish that both sides work together to fulfill the dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation,” he said.

Meanwhile, New Year celebrations were also organized between Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian, and the neighboring Matsu Island, where residents displayed lanterns reflecting their shared cultural traditions. This year marked the 24th edition of these celebrations.

These festivities occur at a time when cross-strait travel is recovering due to the Chinese mainland’s continuous efforts to promote tourism and facilitate travel for Taiwanese residents. In 2025, cross-strait visits exceeded 5 million, the highest in six years.

Fujian had resumed group tours to Kinmen and Matsu in 2024. Earlier this month, the mainland announced that it would soon resume similar tours for residents of Shanghai as well.

“I hope that more people from the mainland will visit Kinmen, experiencing its traditional culture and tasting the local delicacies,” Chang said.

At a recent high-level meeting on Taiwan affairs, Beijing pledged to further facilitate cross-strait travel, expand non-governmental and grassroots exchanges, and encourage joint efforts to promote Chinese culture across the strait.

Peng O-ya, originally from Taipei who has been living in Xiamen for nearly 30 years, shared the fireworks scene with her relatives in Taiwan via a video call. “I hope that compatriots on both sides of the strait will work together, strive together in this promising era, and jointly fulfill their beautiful aspirations,” she said.