First cross-Strait weekend charter flights take off

Tourists board the first direct chartered flight from Xiamen to Taiwan July 4, 2008. The flight took off at 7:25 am on Friday. A total of 353 people will fly from Beijing, while four other groups, each comprising 100 travelers, will leave from Shanghai, Nanjing, Xiamen and Guangzhou. [Xinhua]

Passengers and aircrew stand behind a banner during a ceremony before departing for Taiwan, at Beijing airport Friday July 4, 2008. The first regular weekend charter flights between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan began Friday. (AP Photo/Greg Baker/Pool)

The first wave of mainland China tourists from the coastal city of Xiamen arrive at the Taipei Airport Friday, July 4, 2008, in Taipei, Taiwan. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)