The fifth 2025’ Exploring Ancestral Roots in Fuqing’ Summer Camp, with 26 overseas Chinese youth from Ireland and Spain, visited the Liem Sioe Liong Memorial Hall on 29 July. 

The tour was led by Lin Huiping, Standing Vice President of the Irish Fujian Business Association, and Wang Fang, Standing Vice President of the “Fupuxian” Asociacion De Chinos En Canarias.

It is understood that the 8-day summer camp was jointly organized by the Fuqing Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Irish Fujian Business Association, and the “Fupuxian” Asociacion De Chinos En Canarias, in collaboration with the School of Culture and Law (Overseas Education College) of Fujian Polytechnic Normal University and the Fujian International Communication Center.

At the opening ceremony on 28 July, He Yujin, Standing Committee member of the CPC Fuqing Municipal Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, extended a warm welcome to the youth campers from Ireland and Spain. He recalled the struggles of Fuqing’s diaspora pioneers, emphasizing that while the campers grew up abroad, their roots remain deeply connected to their ancestral land. He encouraged them to use this camp as an opportunity to understand and fall in love with Fuqing, becoming “young ambassadors” who “speak Chinese well and share Fuqing’s stories”, thus contributing to friendship between China, Ireland and Spain.

Young campers explored the four exhibition halls where they learnt how overseas Chinese, represented by Mr. Liem Sioe Liong, contributed to Fuqing’s reform, opening-up and socio-economic development.

Traditional Chinese cultural exhibits drew special attention. In Hall 1 in front of the scenes of Liem Sioe Liong celebrating traditional Chinese festivals in Singapore, visitors were captivated by hanging ornament featuring the character ‘福’ (Fu), lion dance photos, and family reunion portraits. Many campers paused to photograph familiar cultural symbols such as ‘福’ (Fu) or take group photos in front of the displays.

For these youth campers, the experience evoked profound connections. Though raised overseas with limited firsthand knowledge of their ancestral home, the exhibits made them feel their cultural heritage remained unbroken, deepening their understanding of their roots.

In Hall 3, campers traced Fuqing’s evolution from an agricultural county to a modern city through exhibits. They carefully read English descriptions to uncover historical narratives, seeing not only their forebears’ struggles but also their own ties to this land.

Jim Wang, a camper from Ireland, shared: “My parents are from Fuqing and speak the dialect, which I understand a little. Growing up hearing stories about hometown, I’ve always been curious. This is my first time visiting my ancestral homeland. Today’s tour showed me Fuqing’s remarkable history. I’ll share this experience to help more people discover Fuqing and China. I’d love for everyone to come see for themselves!”

Text: Lan Zhenhua

Photograph: Hong Ning