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Zhaoqing's Huilong Town: a global hub of overseas Chinese heritage and cultural legacy

Nestled in Gaoyao District, Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province, Huilong Town is a microcosm of global connections — home to 10,000 returned overseas Chinese and their families, and the roots of 36,000 compatriots spread across 30+ countries and regions, with a dense network in Australia.

Huilong Town emblem. Photo provided by Huilong Town. 南方拍客 Liang liang,Wu Yongqiang 供图

Huilong Town emblem (Photo: Huilong Town)

This town is dotted with numerous overseas Chinese villages. Licha Village is a renowned local overseas Chinese village with a unique layout. The ancient houses are arranged in concentric circles, cleverly integrated with the village-protecting moat and the encircling road, resembling the "Bagua" (Eight Trigrams) of traditional Chinese culture. Around the year 1900, villagers from Licha traveled across the ocean to settle in Australia, earning a living by cultivating vegetables. "At that time, the Cai clan in the village had over 300 members, and there were also more than 300 relatives from the clan growing vegetables in Australia," recalls overseas Chinese Cai Yuquan.

Li Cha “Bagua Village.”  Photo taken by Liang Liang. 南方拍客 Liang liang,Wu Yongqiang 供图

Licha "Bagua Village" (Photo: Liang Liang)

Nearby, Chenghu Village, with a history spanning over 800 years, preserves more than 600 ancient buildings, showcasing a blend of Lingnan style with Western elements. The most iconic example is the Dengjia Tower, the former residence of the famous overseas Chinese, Deng Muzhou, dating back to 1905. As a young man, Deng Muzhou accompanied his father to Australia for business. At the age of 17, he followed Dr. Sun Yat-sen and dedicated himself to the revolution. He was appointed as the Kuomintang's plenipotentiary representative in Australia, earning great prestige among the Chinese community there. He later engaged in revolutionary activities in Guangzhou and other places, making significant contributions to China's revolutionary cause.

Dengjia Tower. Photo provided by Huilong Town. 南方拍客 Liang liang,Wu Yongqiang 供图

Dengjia Tower (Photo: Huilong Town)

Chenghu Village. Photo taken by Wu Yongqiang. 南方拍客 Liang liang,Wu Yongqiang 供图

Chenghu Village (Photo: Wu Yongqiang)

In the Chishuitang community, founded during the Ming Dynasty, the "overseas" connection is deeply ingrained in the local identity. Over a century ago, villagers ventured to Australia and Nanyang (Southeast Asia) to make a living. Today, behind the community's 615 residents are 875 relatives living abroad, making nearly every family a "transnational family." Two Wu Clan Ancestral Halls within the community bear witness to this deep connection: one was built with donations from overseas Chinese, while the other was jointly renovated by community residents and overseas compatriots, transforming it into a cultural museum of village and overseas Chinese history. The old photographs and artifacts housed within silently narrate the community's development and transformation, as well as the overseas Chinese's unbreakable ties to their homeland.

Chishuitang community.Photo provided by Huilong Town. 南方拍客 Liang liang,Wu Yongqiang 供图

Chishuitang Community (Photo: Huilong Town)

The world is vast, yet no matter which corner of the globe they inhabit, the people of Huilong have never lost their deep affection for their hometown. In recent years, the development of Huilong has seen significant improvement. Advancements in transportation, education, and healthcare have all been bolstered by the contributions of overseas and returned Chinese. In their diverse ways, they are collectively writing a new chapter in the enduring cultural legacy of Huilong's overseas Chinese community.

Reporter: Wang Junxin, Tong Hua

Editor: Huang Qini, James, Shen He

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