Taiwan compatriot Chang Hsien-pong has a decades-long history of working for Taiwan media outlets, on the Chinese mainland. Now, he runs an online media channel aimed at sharing stories about the mainland and promotes closer ties across the Taiwan Straits.

The 53-year-old recently began taking his coverage across the mainland and just visited the island province of Hainan where the geographical features resemble those in Taiwan.

"This is my first time reporting in Hainan, and I expect a lot because I believe that in the post-epidemic time, everything is waiting for new opportunities. This is the same with our media and with everywhere else. So, I am expecting a lot from my trips," he said.

Chang said he was drawn to Hainan because the province set a goal to establish independent customs operations by 2025.

"If that happens, the import duties will be reduced. It will be a very good opportunity for many businesses, for example, the wine industry," he said.

"I heard that many Taiwan businessmen in the sector will establish companies here because the travel market, especially the international market, will be boosted, and that is relevant to consumer products like whisky," he said.

Chang said he wants more people to see how Hainan and other parts of the mainland are changing. 

Visiting a historical site that connects the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, he reflected on his own family history. 

"My father went to Taiwan from Nanjing in 1949. After all these years, he has been telling us that our hometown is in Hunan Province. And that's where our roots are," he said.

Chang said that back in that time, telecommunications across the Straits was once cut off. And letters from the mainland had to be transferred through Hong Kong. And one day, Chang's father received a family letter with the photo of his mother. "I remembered clearly that he had been crying and saying that he really wanted to go back," Chang recalled.

"In 1993, I accompanied my father back to our hometown. He knelt down before entering the village where he was brought up and walked on his knees to the home and the tombs of my grandparents. I will never forget that moment," Chang said.

Chang said he's heard similar stories during his recent visit to Shanxi Province in northern China.

He said that he believes there needs to be peace across the Taiwan Straits and that the tragedies of the past should not be repeated. 

"You may not understand the feelings of my father. He is kind of old, now over 90 years of age, and sometimes he barely remembers things, but he would still say that he wanted to go home," he said. 

Chang said that he hopes his travels and reporting across the mainland will help increase understanding between residents from both sides of the Taiwan Straits.