The family genealogy written by Tong Zhiyou. [Photo/WeChat account: HZDBFB]

A 96-year-old Taiwan resident has finally reconnected with his Chinese mainland relatives after 77 years, thanks to a rapid 48-hour cross-Strait search coordinated by media and multiple partners.

Tong Zhiyou, who moved to Taiwan in 1949, had long wished to return home to honor his ancestors but was unable due to old age and illness.

The search began when his daughter, Tong Aining, reached out for help as her father was hospitalized. Relying on a handwritten family genealogy, historical clues, and online outreach, teams in East China's Fujian, Jiangxi, and Zhejiang provinces quickly traced the Tong family's ancestral roots to Shangrao, Jiangxi, and was later linked to Jiande in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Relatives soon responded online, confirming the family connection.

Tong Xinzhong, a nephew of Tong Zhiyou, shows his family photos. [Photo by Guo Qiyu/IC]

Within two days, the long-lost families were reunited virtually, reconnecting more than 100 relatives.

In early February, Tong Aining traveled to her ancestral village in Jiande, Hangzhou, fulfilling her father's lifelong wish to reconnect with his roots. The emotional reunion underscored enduring family bonds that transcend time and distance.

Tong Aining (right), daughter of Tong Zhiyou, receives gifts from her relatives in Jiande. [Photo by Guo Qiyu/IC]