Note: The following is narrated in the first person by overseas Chinese Li Yongfu.
I am Li Yongfu, a real estate agent residing in northwest Sydney of Australia, originally from Huilong Town, Zhaoqing. My family has a long overseas history. My great-grandfather went to Australia during the Australian gold rushes and eventually came back, leaving precious old photos. My father settled in Sydney in 1988, followed by my mother, sister, and me two years later when I was ten.
I only completed first grade in primary school before leaving China, yet I still cherish joyful childhood village memories. Language barrier troubled me at first in Sydney, but school support helped me adapt. Fascinated by kung fu films, I practiced martial arts since childhood and later took formal training. My coaches inherited Shaolin traditions, earning my sincere respect for Shaolin culture.
I started learning lion dance in 2018 and now lead a diverse team of multi-cultural members. We perform at festivals and on national occasions, and even stage shows for significant events.
Though departing from China young, I revisit Huilong yearly. Ancestor worship, ancestral house maintenance, and local cuisine stay vital family customs. The village has undergone striking upgrades with better facilities and historic relic restoration. I hope to retire in my serene hometown and live a leisurely rural life.
My three Australian-born kids speak English but understand Cantonese. The lion dance becomes their biggest drive to return. They actively join local performances and family heritage activities. I remind them to value ancestral roots.
I plan to launch lion dance exchanges for overseas youth, letting them witness hometown renewal and deepen their affection for their ancestral land.
Reporter: Wang Junxin
Text: Tong Hua
Revised by Huang Qini
