In Taiwan, "Mainland" or "Dalu" is the common way to referring to the People's Republic of China. It is perhaps used because it doesn't refer to the communist government of China, which is still not officially viewed as legitimate, but rather refers merely to its geographical location.

Whatever the reason, if you hear a Taiwanese person say "the Mainland", they are referring to the PRC.

Main"land` (?), n.

The continent; the principal land; -- opposed to island, or peninsula.

Dryden.

After the two wayfarers had crossed from the peninsula to the mainland. Hawthorne.

 

© Webster 1913.

Log in or register to write something here or to contact authors.