The opening ceremony of the ninth Nan'an Zheng Chenggong Culture Week. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The ninth Nan'an Zheng Chenggong Culture Week kicked off on Aug 22 in Fujian province, drawing nearly 400 visitors from Taiwan to the city where the historical figure was born. The event brought together guests from China and abroad to celebrate Zheng's legacy and strengthen their ties with his hometown.

Zheng Chenggong statue stands at Daping Mountain Park in Quanzhou. [Photo/VCG]

Zheng was born in Nan'an, and his story remains deeply rooted in the city. Historical sites, cultural activities, and landmarks bearing his name can be found across Nan'an, while his legacy also connects the city with communities in Taiwan, including Tainan, where several temples are dedicated to him.

For some young visitors, the trip offered a chance to encounter a history they had known only from textbooks. “I only knew Zheng from books,” said Liu, a 20-year-old university student from Hualien, Taiwan. “Visiting his hometown let me see his life and culture up close.”

The culture week offers visitors different ways to explore Nan'an, with three themed routes covering Zheng's historical sites, local industries, and landmarks tied to the Maritime Silk Road, while tracing the longstanding ties between Fujian and Taiwan. 

For Nan'an, Zheng's story serves as a bridge linking local history with ongoing cross-Strait cultural exchanges.