[Malaysia] Yuki Lau Zhi Jun, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

A hundred years ago, my great-grandfathers crossed the oceans from here in China to South Oceans or Nanyang which is my hometown, in order to make a living. A century later, I followed the path they took from Nanyang to return here – their hometown, for my dreams.

I am a fourth-generation Chinese in Malaysia. I speak Chinese so well that my Chinese friends are surprised. Through their curious eyes, I vaguely saw that bloody era in which my ancestors, who were strangers in a foreign land, fought to preserve their culture and overcame all the obstacles to send back money to Tangshan in North China from Nanyang. After leaving their hometown and wandering overseas, don’t they want the revitalization of their country and the prosperity of their hometown? It was also at that moment that I realized the meaning of this journey – to experience something that my ancestors had never seen before and to see the glorious prosperity that they only dreamed for.

During the year I came to China, I walked through the bustling Shanghai, stepped on the snow-capped mountains of Changbai Mountain, knelt down in the temples of Licheng (Quanzhou), and appreciated the majestic imperial capital of Beijing.

Lead the world with the support of all nations. The Huangpu River nurtures Shanghai and divides the city into modern and classical parts. Looking at Lujiazui from Puxi is like traveling into the future, with skyscrapers standing tall and magnificent, and the sounds and lights breathtaking. Looking at the Bund from Pudong is like going back in time, with buildings from all over the world standing tall, a 10-mile foreign market stretching wide with the wind and cloud meeting. This is a very inclusive city, with all kinds of people speaking different languages, some wearing neat suits, some being casual, and some being weird and cute. Every morning on the Bund, people from all over the world gather there and respect each other, just like the city is bathed in the morning light. Here you can be completely yourself and will be always accepted without reservation. This is Shanghai.

The mountains and rivers are huge and the waves are magnificent. “Among the wilderness, there is a mountain with the name of Buxian.” With the altitude of 2,620 meters, the temperature is minus 20 C there, and the cold wind howls, as if people will be swept to the bottom of the valley in the next second. In the vast expanse of white, I can’t see clearly ahead. I can’t help but question, why have I traveled thousands of miles to get here? When I was about to leave, the clouds and fog suddenly dispersed, and the Tianchi Lake and its 16 surrounding peak guardians hanging alone in the sky, breaking into my field of vision without warning, and penetrating into my heart. The sky is blue, the lake is white, you can see the mountains below, and the mountains upon mountains. Mountains, rivers, lakes and seas, every effort I made now has a reward, the world is worth it. This is Changbai Mountain.

With the bells in the morning and the drums in the evening, here is full of incense. The legendary earthly office of the gods is a world-class religious museum. It is also the starting point of the Maritime Silk Road and the largest port in the East described by Marco Polo. Human beings and gods are neighbors, ancient houses and Western-style buildings coexist. Looking up to the gods and working hard are the characteristics of this city. The spirit of diligence is deeply engraved in the blood of every Quanzhou person. The phrase “Giving up” cannot be found in their dictionary, as they only try again until succeed. This is Quanzhou.

The Great Wall is like an army protecting the people. At 6 o’clock in the morning, I saw PLA soldiers with dark green military uniforms, thumping drums and uniform steps. The Chinese national anthem was played, accompanied by the five-star red flag rising, and the voices of the masses resounded throughout the Tiananmen Square. An 80-year-old woman was singing, the grandfather in a wheelchair was singing, the children were singing, the parents were singing, and from the corner of my eyes I saw someone with tears in their eyes. This is a Chinese romance that deeply shocked me as a foreigner. Everyone is waiting for the national flag to rise and is willing to make all efforts for it. The flag has never failed to live up to expectations, through a long way, and has leading its people on the world stage higher and higher. This is Beijing.

I often feel homesick and feel suffocated by the floating feeling, but here, I am often healed. I often feel deeply touched when a paper towel handed to me in the bustling crowd, or a friendly guide given to me when I get lost, or a casual “Dr. Liu, you did a good job.” People here seem to always be full of love, and they are never shy about expressing and sharing, no matter which country’s passport you hold or which country’s language you speak. From the big family to the small family, the warm welcome continues spreading, taking care of the restlessness of every foreigner.This is the hometown of my ancestors in dreams.

I once read on the monument that they came from Yongchun, a county under the jurisdiction of Quanzhou. It is said to be a Shangri-la where “everything is colorful and the red flowers never fade, where the winter is warm, the summer is cool, and the four seasons are spring-like.” Although I was in a hurry and could not set foot in Yongchun, Quanzhou makes me truly feel what “the local accent remains unchanged.” Familiar dialect, similar beliefs and cordial greetings. If my ancestors have the chance to come back, will they also look like the elderly locals?

Dimly, I seemed to return to my great-grandmother’s dying days. What a blessing it is to be surrounded by children and grandchildren and have five generations living under one roof. However, her last gaze did not stay on us. Her gaze was far away. Was she waiting for her great-grandfather to reunite after a long separation? Or was she looking at the hometown where she was born and raised up but has never been able to set foot again? It’s OK, granny, I’m back for you. It’s very nice here, maybe it’s not the same as you remember, but it is fine here.

May everyone who wanders have a way home. All the best.