Three Taiwanese passenger ships carrying around 700 people on Tuesday, January 2, headed for Fujian, the southeastern coastal province facing Taiwan on the mainland, launching unprecedented direct "mini links" between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Two boats, "Tai Wu" and "Wu Chiang", were to make a two-hour journey to Xiamen city in Fujian province, 41 kilometers away.

Separately another passenger boat, "Taima", with some 500 worshippers of the Taoist Mazu sea goddess of the same name also set sail for Fuzhou city on a maritime pilgramage.