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History and Culture

Explore Wuyi culture and traditions through cultural practices, festivals, and rites such as Chinese New Year celebrations, ancestor worship, and other traditional customs celebrated by Wuyi families

History and Culture

Why Guangdong’s Marriage Traditions Start with Candy in Elevators (And a 3-Day Rule)

I was in the elevator this morning, rushing to grab my coffee before work, when I noticed something unusual—a small bag of candies tied with a red ribbon and a handwritten note that read: DEAR NEIGHBORS，TODAY, OUR FAMILY IS CELEBRATING A JOYOUS OCCASION, AND GUESTS WILL BE ARRIVING. THE ELEVATOR MAY BE USED FREQUENTLY, WHICH…

ByStevenMarch 23, 20250Comments

History and Culture

The Abacus: How a 1,000-Year-Old Chinese Tool Helped Build Atomic Bombs

It all started with a dusty old suitcase tucked away in the corner of my aunt’s attic. She had recently returned from a trip to North America, bringing back souvenirs, stories, and—apparently—a few surprises. As I helped her unpack, I noticed something unusual peeking out from beneath a pile of sweaters. Curious, I pulled it…

ByStevenMarch 21, 20250Comments

History and Culture

Family Legacy: Chinese Genealogy and Ancestral Villages

Imagine stepping into an ancestral hall (宗祠, zōngcí)—its wooden beams creak under the weight of centuries, yet every inch tells a story. The air carries the faint scent of incense, and on the walls hang scrolls detailing names, dates, and achievements—a living record of your family’s journey through time. For overseas Chinese communities, Chinese genealogy…

ByStevenMarch 20, 20250Comments

History and Culture

I Am Sun Yet-Sen Founder of Modern China: The Return to China and the Seeds of Revolution Part 3

In 1883, I was abruptly withdrawn from my studies at Iolani College in Hawaii and sent back to my ancestral home in Cuiheng Village. My brother, Sun Mei, made this decision after I tore down an image of Guan Yu—a revered deity among Chinese laborers abroad. This act was not merely vandalism but stemmed from…

ByStevenMarch 14, 20250Comments

History and Culture

I Am Sun Yet-Sen Founder of Modern China: Awaking the Rebel Part 2

When I was born on November 12, 1866, the Qing Dynasty had just extinguished the last embers of the Taiping Rebellion . The Taiping Rebellion (1850–1864) was one of the deadliest civil wars in history, led by Hong Xiuquan , a failed scholar who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ. He sought…

ByStevenMarch 12, 20250Comments

History and Culture

I Am Sun Yat-Sen The Father of Modern China: Roots of Struggle – Part 1

In my lifetime, I’ve had over thirty names. In the United States, people called me Sun Yat-sen; in Japan, most referred to me as Sun Wen. After the Xinhai Revolution, my comrades honored me with the name Sun Zhongshan. At home, my family called me Sun Dixiang—a name steeped in superstition, supposedly because a fortune-teller…

ByStevenMarch 11, 20250Comments

History and Culture

Qingming: A Journey Through Time and Memory

For overseas Chinese, Qingming is not merely a date on the calendar—it is a portal to the past, a sacred moment when the veil between worlds thins, and we are called to honor those who shaped us. It is a day steeped in ritual, history, and emotion, where the weight of memory meets the lightness…

ByStevenMarch 5, 20250Comments

History and Culture

The Siyi Dialect: A Heartbeat of Identity Calling Across Generations

Language is more than words—it is the soul of a culture, a living thread that stitches together generations, histories, and identities. For third- and fourth-generation overseas Chinese from the Siyi region, Siyi dialects like Taishanese (台山话) are far more than tools for communication. They are bridges to a heritage steeped in resilience, echoes of ancestors…

ByStevenFebruary 27, 20250Comments

Emigration Stories History and Culture Wuyi Region Overview

200 Years of Resilience: The Sze Yup Diaspora’s Inspiring Journey

Discover the inspiring journey of the Sze Yup diaspora, a 200-year saga of resilience, heritage, and triumph. From the historic Diaolou watchtowers of Guangdong’s Sze Yup region to the goldfields of Australia and the bustling streets of San Francisco, this article explores how Sze Yup emigrants overcame adversity, preserved their culture, and built thriving communities…

ByStevenFebruary 1, 20250Comments