Mainland and Taiwan authorities have reached a breakthrough on cross-strait travel. A pilot program that will allow mainlanders to visit Taiwan as individual tourists will be launched on June 28th.
% U0 o& {# I: m0 {3 l大陆和台湾当局在两岸旅游方面已经取得突破性进展。一个允许大陆居民赴台进行个人游的试点项目将在6月28日启动。
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* b, e# @6 a. {" UIn Shanghai, people began arriving at the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau early in the morning. They are excited about catching the first bus to Taiwan as individual tourists. Nearly one9 g! I! F- f0 \9 \! [& m
hundred people have submitted their applications and are expecting to make the journey across the straits next Tuesday.
+ a6 Z- ?* ^. L. s在上海,人们早上就开始抵达出入境管理局。赶上赴台个人游的第一班班车,他们觉得很兴奋。近百人已经提交了他们的申请书,期待着下周二到海峡对岸旅游。
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Mrs. Feng, a Shanghai resident, said, “I've been to Taiwan on a group tour. At that time, they only gave us one-day off to look around the city. I think this is too rushed for me to visit my relatives over there. After years of waiting," g! N" q2 ]+ k) t. `
I'm so glad that we can visit Taiwan as individuals. Now I can take my time visiting my relatives.” & b0 L$ ^2 I* [" Z
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上海居民冯太太表示:“我跟团游过台湾。在那时,他们只给我们一天的时间自由游览该城市。我觉得这对要去走访在那边的亲戚的我来说太赶了。在多年翘首期待之后,我能以个人游游客的身份赴台,我太高兴了。现在我可以从容不迫地拜访我的亲戚。”
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Another Shanghai resident Mr. Ma said, "Last time I visited Taiwan with a sightseeing group.
! F( g& I( r0 z O9 ^The experience that time was not good because we can't arrange our own schedule. The individual visit will allow us to have more time of our own.
$ u* s T: f( e# O+ J9 G/ m I'm really looking forward to the journey ahead."
* s/ m+ J" z9 q, w+ o& V8 ~另一个上海居民马先生称:“上次我是跟着一个观光团游台湾的。那次的经历不是很好,因为我们不能安排自己的行程。这次的个人游允许我们有更多自己的时间。我真的很期盼即将到来的旅行。”
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The application procedures to visit Taiwan are similar to those for Hong Kong and Macau. Applicants are required to submit the relevant materials in person,
; c: ] g' \9 l7 j- W+ vand can collect their pass ten days later. Travel agencies can complete the procedures ever faster.% |* _# }7 ]0 G
赴台游的申请程序和赴港、赴澳游一样。申请人要提交相关的个人资料,而且在10天之后能领到他们的护照。旅行社可以较快地办好这些手续。
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; p! q' q8 Z8 M$ i, x$ NMr. Tang, a local travel agency staff, said, "After we have all the required materials,
$ i: h+ G5 O/ r we will send them to local travel agencies in Taiwan. They will help us to make the pass for exit and entry. It doesn't take long. 9 k- Q- q u, E: P
9 ]' ~- D5 [( r1 qI think we can get the pass after about two days."+ _; E6 ~7 W* i+ @* m# p4 Q
当地旅行社的员工唐先生表示:“在拿到所有要求的资料之后,我们会把他们送到台湾当地的旅行社。他们会帮我们办理出入境护照。这不会花很长时间。我想我们大约在两天之后就能拿到护照。” |