Red carpet rolled out on first leg of mainland visit
Nanjing, the former Nationalist capital, literally rolled out the red carpet for Lien Chan, giving the Taiwanese opposition leader treatment usually reserved for heads of state.
After a six-hour flight the KMT leader disembarked from the chartered China Eastern Airlines plane at about 5pm to the applause of mainland officials, as 300 journalists jostled for position to record the historic moment.
Accompanied by wife Lien Fang Yu, who wore a bright pink suit, Mr Lien waved to the reception party led by Chen Yunlin, director of the Taiwan Office of the Communist Party's Central Committee, who flew from Beijing.
Five female airport workers held up a red banner saying 'Welcome the China Kuomintang delegation visiting the mainland' as others presented bouquets of flowers to nearly every member of the KMT group. Mr Lien spent several minutes thanking and waving to the crowd before Mr Chen guided him to the microphone.
'The KMT is connected to Nanjing both historically and sentimentally,' he said, before sending the party's regards to the Nanjing people. 'The KMT misses and cares about all of you.'