Visiting the hometown of diaspora pioneers and tracing the revolutionary origins, the "AI·Language Pathfinders" practice team from the School of Foreign Languages, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University, visited the Liem Sioe Liong Memorial Hall on 3 July. Through the Rural Outreach social practice, team members aimed to study the legendary life of patriotic overseas Chinese leader Mr. Liem Sioe Liong and explore the resilience and patriotic fervor of generations of overseas Chinese.

With reverence, the team toured the four exhibition halls. In Hall 1, the team explored Mr. Liem’s life through rich archival materials and artifacts. Exhibits bearing decades of memories, such as traditional wedding artifacts and family photographs, vividly revealed his traditional virtues that he cherished his family. Team members were deeply moved by the tender humanity underlying such resilience.

Stepping into Hall 2, the team was overwhelmed by Mr. Liem’s entrepreneurial journey. From humble start during WWII and Indonesia’s War of Independence to building a business empire through bold risk-taking and unwavering integrity, he turned adversity into opportunity time and time again. In front of the reconstructed Indonesian office scene with furniture and décor shipped from Indonesia and arranged authentically, they felt as if they were taken on a journey through ages to witness the leadership of this industrial titan firsthand.

In Hall 3, yellowed historical images and precious artifacts silently narrated Mr. Liem’s heartfelt dedication to his homeland. Through exhibitions themed Overseas Chinese the Source of Growth, Industry as a top  Priority, and Caring for the People's Livelihood, the team learned how in the 1980s–90s, as an overseas community leader, he mobilized overseas resources to establish the Rongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone and Yuanhong Investment Zone, accelerating the industrialization in his hometown. Valuable footages of the Minjiang River Diversion Project, historical objects and a plaque inscribed "Improving Healthcare" on display outlined not only his transformative contributions to infrastructure and improving people’s livelihood but also his profound love for his hometown. The team was deeply touched.

In Hall 4, exhibits traced Mr. Liem’s cross-border philanthropic endeavors. Organized under the themes Disaster Relief and Helping the Poor, Ethnic Chinese Naturalized as Indonesians, Establishment of Associations, and Promoting Culture, Hall 4 showcased his efforts to integrate stateless Chinese into Indonesian society and build cultural bridges. From initiating relief campaigns to founding the International Association of Fuqing Clansmen, from preserving Chinese heritage to fostering multiracial harmony, archival documents and photographs vividly portrays how this business titan transcended profit-driven boundaries with his social responsibility and global vision. Mr. Liem bridged divides with compassion and fostered inclusion through action, a powerful testament to the mission and leadership expected of diaspora pioneers, which resonated deeply with every team member present.

At the end of visit, team members expressed profound inspiration from Mr. Liem’s patriotism and perseverance. The visit not only helped every one of them better understand his extraordinary life but also strengthened their beliefs, ideals and patriotic fervor while tracing revolutionary origins. Moving forward, they pledged to further explore revolutionary legacies, inherit the ethos of the pioneers to ensure this revolutionary spirit shines brighter in the new era.

Photos & Text: Communist Youth League Committee, School of Foreign Languages, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University