Ma Ying-jeou arrived in Shanghai on Monday afternoon for a visit to the Chinese mainland lasting through April 7, making him the first former leader of the island to visit the mainland. He came with a group from Taiwan.

Officials from the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee received him at the airport.

The delegation will head to Nanjing, Jiangsu province on Monday afternoon.

During the trip, Ma will pay respects to his ancestors and advise young students from Taiwan to strengthen exchanges with people on the mainland. The delegation will visit Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha and Chongqing, among other places.

Ma said it was his first visit to the mainland in a brief speech at the airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan, before his departure, Chinatimes.com reported.

"In fact, when I was 37 years old, I was in charge of cross-Straits affairs in the government. I am 73 years old now. I have waited 36 years for the opportunity to visit the mainland," he said.

The mainland welcomes Ma's visit and is willing to provide necessary assistance, Ma Xiaoguang, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said earlier this month.