Magical Southern China – my father’s ancestral village in Zhongshan

My father was born in the Zhongshan town in Guangdong province, China, making it my ancestral hometown by default.

On a picturesque sunny day, amidst the towering concrete structures of a bustling city of three million people, we embarked on a quest to locate our ancestral villages. Amidst the urban landscape, we stumbled upon a serene street corner adorned with a humble shrine dedicated to the Earth God. Adjacent to the shrine lay a narrow pathway leading to the villages. 

Despite the urban sprawl, many of the original houses still stood, weathered by time yet retaining their essence and character.

While my father came from a modest family, my granduncle’s family held prominent government positions during the Qing dynasty, thus enjoying considerable influence and prosperity. The family’s century-old residence, one of the most distinguished homes in the vicinity, still stands today. We marvelled at its grandeur, second only to the opulent abode of the affluent landlord. The house is occupied by distant relatives, they dutifully preserve its heritage, meticulously maintaining its original features with utmost care and reverence.

I was most impressed with the kitchen, which retained the traditional wood and hay stove and the original kitchen shelves.

Accompanied by our relatives, we were guided to the ancestral hall, a sacred space where we could pay homage to our forebears and trace our lineage through the family trees. However, despite our earnest anticipation, the passage of time had erased any traceable records of our familial history. Our families had departed the villages generations ago, leaving behind a void in the annals of ancestral documentation.

Undeterred by the absence of tangible records, the younger members of our group bowed their heads in prayer, offering solemn respects to the spirits of our ancestors, acknowledging their enduring legacy and seeking their blessings for generations to come. Though the records may have faded, the reverence and connection to our ancestral roots remained palpable in our hearts.

The local food market lay just a stone’s throw away from the ancestral hall, enticing us with its vibrant array of culinary delights. Eager to explore, the children enthusiastically led the way, eager for the adventure that awaited them amidst the bustling stalls and aromatic offerings. It promised to be a memorable experience filled with new sights, sounds, and flavors.

What an eventful day it has been. As the sun begins to set, both children and adults alike make their way back home, feeling thoroughly exhausted yet fulfilled by the day’s adventures.