Different likes:Although mainlanders one and all, they have differing views of Taiwan's mainland programs. Still, after getting away from the mainland's educational ("liberating") programming, now they tend to prefer shows that aim to entertain.
Teng Hai makes a quick comparison of Taiwan and mainland television: "Mainland television is more rigid. It's a little bit like a classroom lecture. Taiwan's television is much livelier and much more entertaining." Teng Hai and Ma Yu both like CTS' "Ten Thousand Miles of Rivers and Mountains." Besides the history and geography (much more interesting than what's found in the textbooks), the lack of political judgments is another reason they like it. Fu Shao-mei likes to watch CTV's "Wonders of China" because the customs of minorities featured in the program differ so from life in the cities.
But "The Journey of 8000 Miles," the granddaddy of all these programs, elicits widely differing opinions.
Lin Shan-le, who came to Taiwan to live with relatives, and Li Lan, a student at Hsinpu Junior College, praise "8000 miles" for its deep and fertile subject matter and for daring to tackle sensitive issues. That lover of dramas Ma Yu, on the other hand, believes that "8000 Miles" goes too far in directly judging mainland trends and cross-strait relations. Sometimes, she says, it has a sneering or glibly debasing tone that makes it more difficult for her to accept.
Yet does the content of these programs fit with their personal experiences on the mainland? These mainlanders feel that what is on television doesn't differ much from real life, and because the mainland authorities have adopted a policy of pushing certain areas for travel, Taiwanese produced programs have entered some areas that even mainlanders can't visit, such as the southwest border and the area between Manchuria and Russia, and so they often feel that it's an eye-opening experience.
Ma Yu says these programs are very true to life. Very few programs in the mainland will show backward or impoverished areas, and Taiwan's programs spend a lot of time filming there. But Taiwanese production crews won't take time out to stay anywhere for long, and in the view of these experienced travellers it's here where the shows come up short.
Fu Hsiao-mei cites her hometown of Hangzhou. Last time "Wonders of China" only introduced such scenic attractions as the West Lake and White Dike. But many other places, such as the Mausoleum of General Yueh-fei and the Temple of Inspired Seclusion, are worth reporting on.
Having watched programs about the mainland for so many years, what do today's audiences still hope to see?