In a quiet corner of a cultural and creative park in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, a special restaurant offers more than cuisine from Taiwan — it serves a sense of belonging and acts as a bridge connecting hearts across the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Opened in 2024 by Lan Wen-chuan, 46, a native of Yilan county, Taiwan, the restaurant, Daodao Guilai, carries deep emotional significance.

"It holds my longing for my hometown," Lan said.

Lan's mother is originally from Luohe, Henan. Her parents have run a restaurant in Taiwan for many years — a connection she only fully understood after traveling to Zhengzhou more than two decades ago on a work assignment.

"My family saw it not as leaving home, but as coming back," she said.

After years of running an online business and experiencing life in Henan, Lan decided to open the restaurant after hearing friends from Taiwan and Zhengzhou say the city lacked authentic Taiwan flavors.

Drawing on her family's experience in the restaurant business, she set out to create a space that felt like home.

Upon entering the restaurant, guests are greeted by decor that captures the essence of Taiwan, including retro radios, old posters and hand-painted wall art.

"I wanted every detail to tell a story of shared memories," Lan said.

The menu features Taipei-style braised pork rice, oyster omelette, beef noodles, three-cup chicken and shrimp crackers. Lan even returned to her hometown to study from more than a dozen night market stalls to perfect her oyster omelette.

"One of my happiest moments is hearing a parent say their picky child finished a whole bowl of braised pork rice," she said.

The restaurant has become a gathering place for young people from Taiwan living in Henan. Lan said she hopes to help newcomers adjust to life on the mainland — from applying for residence permits and medical insurance to offering career advice.

She encouraged people from Taiwan to experience the mainland firsthand.

"Don't understand the world only through what you hear. Come and see it with your own eyes," she said.

Lan said that many young visitors from Taiwan are surprised by the convenience of delivery apps and the pace of development.

"What they see is completely different from what they heard back home," she said.

Xu Chu-qiao, 24, from Kaohsiung, started working at the restaurant after graduating from Zhengzhou University.

"For me, coming to the Chinese mainland to study and work is also a process of broadening my horizons," Xu said. "It's best if you come and see for yourself — that's the only way to truly experience and understand."

A plaque displayed prominently on the restaurant wall reads: "People on both sides of the Strait are one family."

Hsi Yun-lung, a diner born in New Taipei, said the familiar elements remind him of home.

"It feels like being back in my hometown. Being able to eat these dishes in Zhengzhou is truly special," he said.

For Lan, food is the most natural bridge.

"Many dishes from Taiwan originated on the mainland and developed their own character, much like simplified and traditional Chinese characters. Different in form, but the same at heart," she said.

Contact the writers at qixin@chinadaily.com.cn