2005 Pan–Blue visits to mainland China

Lien Chan and his 70-member delegation departed Taipei for Hong Kong on April 26, starting the 8-day "journey of peace"[6] which the mainland Chinese media referred to as a "visit."[7] The Chinese media changed the airport name from "Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport" to "Taoyuan airport" to avoid mentioning the name of former leader of KMT and the late President of the Republic of China, Chiang Kai-shek.[8]

On that morning, about a thousand people gathered at the Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, and violent conflict broke out among the supporters and opponents of the tour, resulting in many injuries.[9][10]

Some Pan-Green supporters illegally brought guandao, beer bottles, stones, eggs, firecrackers, clubs, and sharpened sugarcanes into the terminals[11][12] and started beating Pan-Blue supporters and the police, throwing stones and setting off firecrackers in the meantime. Many members of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), and the Taiwan Independence Party were arrested, along with the host of a political talk show.[13]

Pan-Blue supporters fought back, swearing "an eye for an eye". There were suspected Triad members clad in black[14] in the mob, picking on Pan-Green's supporters, causing many to be hospitalized. The New Party chairman Yok Mu-ming was arrested, along with other people in the Pan-Blue Coalition.

Outside the airport, a few taxis attempted to blockade the highway, preventing Lien from reaching the airport, but they were repelled by the motorcade's police escort. Taiwan independence advocate Shi Ming and pan-Green supporters lit firecrackers in front of the terminal, but were not arrested.[12]

Lien avoided the trouble entirely having been taken into the airport via a VIP entrance.[9]

Because the Aviation Police Office of Taiwan proved inept in handling the riot, its director, Chen Jui-tien was dismissed that evening.[15] The Minister of the Interior, Su Jia-chyuan offered to resign, but the offer was rejected by Premier Frank Hsieh.[14][16]

On the Internet, teenagers parodied the event with a mock Dynasty Warriors battle.[12]

Lien Chan and his wife, Lien Fang Yu,[17] in Nanjing

The delegation transferred onto China Eastern Airlines to Nanjing in Hong Kong, where they were greeted by the PRC Liaison Office of Hong Kong.

Lien and the delegation arrived at Nanjing Lukou International Airport on April 26, at 16:40. Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council head Chen Yunlin was at the airport to welcome the delegation.[18] One of Lien's aides, Joanna Lai, quipped "It would have taken just two and half hours from Taipei to Nanjing by direct flight, but we took 50-60 years."[19] Lien echoed the sentiment in a short speech upon arrival, saying "Taipei and Nanjing are not too distant, but it still took 60 years to come here. It certainly took too long to make the journey."[20] That night he attended a banquet hosted by the leader of the Jiangsu provincial government and lodged at the Jinling Hotel.

On April 27, the delegation visited the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, where Lien burnt incense for the former president surrounded by the general public and press reporters. Lien quoted Sun Yat-Sen's last words "peace, struggle, save China" to promote a healthy relationship across the strait. Lien was the first KMT chairman to visit the mausoleum for 56 years.[21][22]

On the same day, Lien visited the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the former Republic of China Presidential Palace, Tianfei Gong, and the Fuzi Miao (Shrine of Confucius).

On the morning of April 28, Lien left Nanjing for Beijing.

In the afternoon of April 28, Lien and the delegation arrived in the Beijing Capital International Airport, where he delivered another speech.[23] Then he attended a conference with the Taiwan Affairs Office in the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Later, the delegation visited the Forbidden City. Lien met the CPPCC Chairman Jia Qinglin at the Great Hall of the People, and then watched a traditional Beijing opera performance.

On April 29, Lien gave a speech and answered questions from students and faculty in Peking University. The speech called for a 'win-win' future of cooperation and peace, praising both Deng Xiaoping and Chiang Ching-kuo as having made pivotal decisions that led to economic growth.[24][25][26]

In the speech, he also mentioned that both Hu Shih and former National Taiwan University president Fu Sinian had graduated from Peking University, then worked at Taiwan University and spread liberalism there. "Therefore, in terms of liberalism, both Peking University and Taiwan University are born from the same root. Especially in mainland China, it can be said that it's a bastion of freedom." But a proportion of Taiwanese students disagreed, saying both Hu and Fu were fierce opponents of communism in favor of freedom of education, and thus the two universities can't be compared, and protested outside the front gate.

Lien then toured the university, and visited the dormitory where his mother once lived. At 15:00, Lien met Hu Jintao in the Great Hall of the People, marking a historical meeting between the Chinese Communist Party and the Kuomintang, the first since 1945.[27] After 17:30, Lien held a press conference, and listed the five points of compromise settled upon by the two parties following the conference:[28][29][30]

1. On the premise of acknowledging the 1992 Consensus, encourage the reopening of talks across the strait;
2. Encourage an end to hostilities, and establish peace;
3. Encourage cooperation in economic exchange and crime fighting, push for two-way direct flights across the strait, Three Links, and agricultural exchange;
4. Encourage talks regarding increasing Taiwan's international role; and
5. Establish a platform of communication between the two parties.

That evening, Lien changed his plan for the night and met with Hu Jintao again. Reportedly, Hu Jintao invited Lien for a politics-free chat as it was Lien's last night in Beijing.

On April 30 at 11:25, the delegation arrived at Xi'an Xianyang International Airport, starting Lien's tour of his birthplace.[31] Welcoming Lien were officials of the Shaanxi provincial government, Taiwanese businessmen in mainland China, and children from Lien's elementary school.

At 3 pm Lien returned to Houzaimen Elementary School (then called Beixinjie Elementary), which he had attended 60 years ago. There he gave a speech and watched several presentations by the schoolchildren, among them the soon-famous "Grandpa, You are back!" skit reminiscent of the Cultural Revolution.[32] Lien later donated to the school library, and the school gave him a 7 m (23 ft) long wall scroll in return.

After visiting the school, the delegation visited the Terracotta Army. In the evening, Shaanxi provincial secretary Li Jianguo hosted a Tang dynasty-style banquet for the delegation in the Tang Paradise theme park.[33] Li presented the delegation with prints from the Stele Forest and ancient copperware, Lien in return gave famous Taiwanese glasswork. Later, the delegation watched the musical "Dream Back to the Tang" in the Fengming Jiutian Theatre.

Lien and his family members visited his grandmother's grave in Xi'an on May 1, and burnt incense at the nearby Qingliang Temple.

At 5pm on May 1, Lien arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

The next day, Lien cancelled his trip atop the Oriental Pearl Tower and held a press conference at the Shanghai Shangri-la Hotel. He later visited Wang Daohan at Jinjiang Hotel.[34] At nine he toured Xintiandi, and took a harbor cruise to view The Bund at night.

On May 3, 1pm, Lien and his delegation flew back to Taipei, via Hong Kong.[35]