Lei Shukui tells her feelings about the homecoming trip. [Photo by Wen Bo]

On August 21, the last day of the 5-day Mainland Spouses Home Returning Exchange activity, group leader Lei Shukui posted her feelings about the trip on Wechat, saying "Happy times are always short. The trip over the past few days has given us a better understanding of Zhongshan and the changes in the motherland." 

Lei was born in Dutou Village in South District. In 1995, she got married in Taiwan at age 22. Hometown and relatives had become her greatest concern since then.

After a difficult time in Taiwan, she founded an association of welfare and development for mainland and foreign spouses in 2014.

The association has established 8 branch offices in different areas and develops cooperation with many other mainland spouse associations in Taiwan, in a bid to provide furthest assistance and services for mainland and foreign spouses and make sisters a "second home". The association also puts great efforts in public benefit activities and community-based affairs. 

In 2018, Lei for the first time led a delegation of nearly 30 Zhongshan mainland spouses to return their hometown. They visited schools in the city to have a better understanding of Zhongshan's education development.

This year, Lei continued to organize 25 mainland spouses from Zhongshan and other cities and provinces, along with their children, to return home for exchange.

"This trip gives us the overall look of the vibrant, promising Zhongshan," Lei said. "The younger generation has to understand that they must not forget their roots and the home of their nostalgia, no matter where they are."