Famous Taiwan writer and cultural figure Li Ao arrived in Shanghai on Sunday, the second leg on his 10-day "Chinese culture trip".

The 70-year-old man, who is also a member of Taiwan's legislature, is expected to give a lecture at the prestigious Fudan University and meet the press at the stylish entertainment site of Xintiandi.

It was from Shanghai that Li left China's mainland with his parents for Taiwan 56 years ago. He studied in a middle school in Shanghai for one year before leaving for Taiwan.

Li's trip was among a series of activities that the mainland side has pushed actively for closer exchanges between the Communist Party of China and three political parties in Taiwan, namely the Kuomintang, the People First Party and the New Party, and exchanges in many other sectors.

Li's exposure in Beijing has become a media limelight for his popularity as an eloquent and passionate speaker.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2005)