On the morning of July 17, the 5th Cross-Strait Youth Culture Month—"Embarking to Embrace Dreams in Huai'an" Cross-Strait Youth Canal Travel commenced gracefully at Xin'an Primary School in Huai'an City.

At the opening ceremony, the 2025 Cross-Strait Youth Canal Travel exchange and a series of meticulously planned activities were launched, envisioning a promising blueprint for deep exchange between youths from both sides. Additionally, the initiation ceremony for the Cross-Strait Youth Canal Travel was held. Throughout the six-day exchange event, youths from both regions joined hands, creating a shared vision for a brighter future.

This Cross-Strait Youth Canal Travel event featured the participation of 150 young individuals from Taiwan and 50 from Huai'an. Besides the opening ceremony, participants visited Shen Kun's Zhuangyuan Mansion, Hexia Ancient Town, and the China Water Transport Museum. They explored the cultural legacy of Journey to the West at Wu Chengen's (the author) former residence and enjoyed delightful moments at the Xiyou World of Adventure. During the event, the Huai-Tai Youth Drone Making Competition allowed young individuals from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to foster friendship and jointly develop skills through scientific and technological contests.

In recent years, the Taiwan Affairs Office of Huai'an Municipal People's Government has dedicated itself to facilitating cross-strait exchanges and collaborations. By organizing a series of activities, including cultural study programs, sports events, and folk culture experiences, it has continually expanded communication channels for young people across the strait, providing platforms for Taiwanese youth to understand and integrate into the Chinese mainland. This Canal Travel event is both a continuation of past exchange achievements and a new starting point for fostering deep connections between youths across the Taiwan Strait, contributing youthful energy to the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations.