The leader of Taiwan's opposition Mr. Lien was warmtly welcomed by Chinese communist officials who interpreted his arrival as a sign of reconciliation.
Mr. Lien says the goal of his visit is to ease the long-lasted tensions between the sides.
"Taipei and Nanjing are not too distant, but it still took 60 years to come here," Lien said on reaching the eastern city of Nanjing. "It certainly took too long to make the journey."
Lien's seven-day trip program includes talks with Chinese President Hu Jintao in the highest-ranking meeting between Chinese and Taiwanese politicians. The meeting would be the first official move since the Nationalists lost the civil war with China's Communists.