Taiwan has opened its first office in mainland China since the end of the civil war more than sixty years ago, in which the two sides separated. <br/><br/>The semi-official tourism office in Beijing is intended to encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan. <br/><br/>The island opened up to visitors from the mainland in 2008, and since then more than a million have travelled there. <br/><br/>Relations between the two sides have improved significantly since President Ma Ying-jeou took office in Taiwan two years ago, promising to reduce tensions with Beijing.