Liu Dongfa (R2), a fisherman in Pingtan, left his first wife - who was three months pregnant with their second child - and Liu Yonde, in 1951 to seek his fortune in Taiwan. [Photo/english.pingtan.gov.cn]

A resident of Pingtan county in Fujian province is trying to find his half-sisters who live in Taiwan, and has shared his story with the Pingtan Times.

The newspaper published the story of Liu Yongde, 60, on Feb 12, and it included details about his family – and its ties to Taiwan - over the past few decades.

Liu Dongfa, a fisherman in Pingtan, left his first wife - who was three months pregnant with their second child - and Liu Yonde, in 1951 to seek his fortune in Taiwan. He never returned due to the decades-long political stalemate between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

After his move to Taiwan, Liu Dongfa married a local woman, Li Yumei, and had three daughters. He made contact with his family in Pingtan in the 1970s and continued exchanging letters with them.

After Liu Dongfa's death in 1978, his relatives in Taiwan and Pingtan stayed in contact.

Li Yumei visited Pingtan in 1989, two years after the Chinese mainland and Taiwan reached an agreement on family visits.

But that was the last time Liu Yongde saw his family across the Straits, as he lost contact with them after Li returned to Taiwan.

Liu said he tried writing letters and making phone calls, but did not manage to reach any of his family, and he welcomes any information from members of the public, who can reach him by calling 0591-24110110 or by email: 13489145716@163.com

Edited by Chen Zhilin and Niva Whyman