A letter family members in Taiwan wrote to He Zhigang's father in 1992. [Photo by Sun Jiakui/provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

As a train driver, He has witnessed the development of railways on the mainland. When he started working in 1989, he operated steam locomotives. The first high-speed railway in Fujian did not open until 2009.

During the recent Spring Festival, He took freight trains to different stops in the province.

"Even though I no longer carry passengers, the job of transporting goods is as important. There are goods to be exported overseas and also anti-pandemic materials," He said.

The opening of a rail line in 2020 between Fuzhou and Pingtan, an island county in Fujian province, was thrilling news, as it seemed to bring the dream a little closer.

The eagerness to get together is strong during festivals. "There are quite a few families like us on the mainland. We experienced the difficulties of being apart, and we firmly want a peaceful cross-Straits relationship."