Minnan Rhymes Bridge the Strait: Children's Voices Unite Across Straits

　　The 7th Cross-Strait Minnan Children's Rhymes Contest Celebrates Cultural Connectivity

　　With cheerful rhymes and heartfelt voices, the bonds between young people across the Taiwan Strait were once again reaffirmed. Spanning eight months, the 7th Cross-Strait (Quanzhou) Minnan Children’s Rhymes Contest and the 2nd “Voices Across the Sea” Minnan Storytelling Competition culminated in a celebratory performance and award ceremony on July 23 at the Quanzhou Broadcasting and Television Hall.

　　Since its launch in December 2023, the contest has drawn participation from over 3,000 students from both sides of the Strait through a combination of online and in-person events. More than 500 original Minnan rhymes and 500 Minnan-language storytelling entries were submitted, covering themes such as cross-strait friendship, Maritime Silk Road heritage, and folk traditions.

　　Students from Quanzhou Normal University Affiliated Primary School perform the rhyme “Choosing a Master.”

　　Schools in Kinmen and Taiwan contributed actively, submitting over 60 rhymes and storytelling entries. A delegation of 13 teachers and students from Qiaoxiao Primary School in Taichung and Bochun Primary School in Kinmen traveled to Quanzhou to attend the final showcase. They also participated in cultural exchange activities such as the “Tracing the Source” heritage walk and a visit to Quanzhou’s UNESCO-listed historic city center, reviving the once-interrupted “Children’s Rhymes Journey to Quanzhou.” The familiar melody of “The Sky Turns Dark” (Ti？ O？h-O？h), sung in unison by children from across Quanzhou, Kinmen, and Taiwan, echoed through the auditorium, rekindling collective cultural memory.

　　Students from Qiaoxiao Primary School (Taichung), Bochun Primary School (Kinmen), and Jingguang Primary School (Quanzhou) sing “The Sky Turns Dark” together.

　　Having previously participated online in past contests, Principal You Rongxiang of Qiaoxiao Primary School (Taichung) expressed his honour in leading the Taiwan delegation to Quanzhou this year, aiming to inspire students to reconnect with their ancestral language and culture. Student Wang Pinhan noted with excitement how the Minnan language spoken by Quanzhou children sounded just like what he knew in Taiwan—“even the rhymes are the same!”

　　Since its launch in 2017, the Cross-Strait Minnan Children's Rhymes Contest has been held successfully for seven consecutive years, involving nearly 20,000 teachers and students. Activities include creative rhyme performance, visits to living cultural heritage sites, and symbolic “tree-planting for friendship” events. The initiative has grown into a meaningful platform promoting cultural exchange among children and youth, encouraging a shared appreciation and transmission of Minnan language and heritage. Today, Minnan rhymes are no longer confined to traditional settings or stages—they have become a living part of everyday life, deeply resonating with Taiwanese communities and overseas Minnan descendants, stirring their longing for home and cultural belonging.

　　Principal Xu Xuefang of Bochun Primary School (Kinmen) hopes the event continues to foster lasting friendships between children from Kinmen and Quanzhou as they learn Minnan together. Mr. Zheng Genzhen, Chair of the Taichung Kinmen Association, emphasized that “people on both sides of the Strait are one family.” He believes the innocence and joy of Minnan rhymes can deepen cultural exchange and hopes Quanzhou students will one day visit Taiwan to sing rhymes and celebrate shared roots together.

　　The event was guided by the Central Committee of the Taiwan Democratic Self-Government League and the Fujian Provincial Bureau of Radio and Television. It was jointly organized by the Quanzhou Education Bureau, Quanzhou Office for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs, Quanzhou Culture and Tourism Bureau, Quanzhou Branch of the Taiwan Democratic League, Quanzhou Overseas Chinese Federation, Quanzhou Taiwan Compatriots Federation, Quanzhou Jinjiang Compatriots Federation, and Quanzhou Broadcasting and Television Station. Co-organizers from Taiwan included the Taiwan Radio and Television Programme Association, the Cross-Strait Broadcasting Exchange Association, the Kinmen Association of Taiwan, and the Taichung Kinmen Association.