Out of the 'cocoon'

Chen, born in 1979 and formerly a supporter of the DPP, first visited the mainland in June last year to see it for himself. He livestreamed his six-day trip to Shanghai and Hangzhou in Zhejiang province.

Before departure on the first day, he admitted that he had felt uneasy, saying that many people on the island had tried to discourage and intimidate him.

Upon arrival, Chen said: "I had been influenced by the narratives on the island my whole life, believing whatever others told me. It wasn't until I came here in person today that I realized I had been completely misled."

Some narratives promoted on the island by certain media outlets have attempted to portray the mainland as "backward", including claims such as the "high-speed rail seats have no backrests" and the "toilets have no doors".

Chen challenged these claims through firsthand experiences shared during his livestreams, describing them as "lies spread by the DPP". During his trip, he used high-speed rail and mobile payment services in multiple cities while showcasing authentic street scenes and the daily lives of ordinary people.

To his surprise, he was warmly welcomed by people on the mainland, with some even politely asking to take photos with him.

"The trip completely overturned my negative impression of the mainland," Chen said, adding that he was astonished by the mainland's rapid development. Online, some who watched the livestream commented that they had misunderstood the mainland as well, and Chen's trip gave them a chance to know the realities.

Four months later, Chen made his second visit to the mainland, covering stops including Beijing, Shenyang in Liaoning province and Xiamen in Fujian province. This time, he offered a more direct acknowledgment of the mainland's progress, along with outspoken criticism of disinformation spread by the DPP.

"I originally thought I would never come to the mainland in my lifetime," the 47-year-old said, while encouraging young people in Taiwan to come and see the mainland for themselves.

Since taking office in 2016, the DPP authorities have steadily tightened restrictions on cross-Strait people-to-people exchanges. In 2024, the Lai Ching-te authorities raised the travel alert for the mainland to an "orange" level, advising people to avoid nonessential travel while highlighting what they described as the risks of visiting the mainland.

Fan, who visited the mainland for the first time in December last year, said many people tried to discourage her from making the trip. "They were worried that I might be detained and unable to return," she said.

The stark contrast between the DPP's portrayal of the mainland and what these influencers experienced firsthand led to a noticeable shift in their attitudes toward the mainland.

The DPP authorities have scaremongered and intimidated influencers who have visited the mainland, saying such trips are part of a "united front trap" or "cognitive warfare", while intensifying scrutiny of the funding sources and backgrounds of related groups.

Those who shared positive impressions after traveling to the mainland have faced personal attacks from DPP supporters and have been accused of engaging in "cognitive warfare".

Public reactions to these trips have therefore been polarized, with some expressing support while others criticizing them as being "brainwashed" by the mainland.

"I will continue to visit the mainland and bring the actual conditions back to Taiwan in an effort to help more people gain a more direct understanding," Chen said after his second visit.