Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) in Taiwan, paid homage to his maternal grandparents' tombs Saturday in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province.

"I feel grateful to be able to pay respect to my grandparents and all ancestors of my mother's family on her behalf," Lien told Xinhua after a ceremony featuring incense burning, bows and presentation of bouquets to the tombs in Lansheng Village of Shaling Township in Yuhong District, on the outskirts of Shenyang.

"It's a miracle we were still able to find the tombs. I'm really excited," he said.

Local authorities said the tombs of the Zhao family were found only a few days ago, with the help of an 85-year-old native in Shenyang.

On Saturday, Lien Chan also visited his mother's former residence in Shenyang and a high school where his mother used to study and teach.

He met 38 relatives in Shenyang and had lunch with them.

Lien said on Friday his visit to Liaoning was to fulfil the wish of his 97-year-old mother, who wanted to pay a visit to her hometown but could not come due to her health condition.

Lien arrived in Shenyang Friday for the second mainland tour, nearly six months after his epoch-making visit from April 26 to May 3 at the invitation of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Hu Jintao, the CPC Central Committee general secretary.

Source: Xinhua