The Roots: Him Mark Lai Family History Project is a program for people with ancestral roots in Guangdong Province. After exploring their Chinese roots in America, participants explore their roots in China through visits to their ancestral villages and other historical and cultural sites in Guangdong Province. The overarching intent of the program is to provide the participants with an awareness and appreciation of the totality of the Chinese American experience. They gain a better understanding of their heritage, which ultimately helps them to better understand their identities as Chinese Americans. 

Structure and Curriculum
The program includes a series of seminars and activities, including a tour of San Francisco Chinatown, research at the National Archives, and a tour of the Angel Island Immigration Station. Seminar topics include China’s history and geography and the Chinese American community.  A final pre-trip seminar is held before the group goes on a guided trip of about two weeks in China to visit ancestral villages.

The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Guangdong Province provides key logistical support in the search for villages and with arrangements for travel and accommodations in China. The group visits key historic and cultural sites, such as the Meiguan Pass (through which early Chinese migrants arrived in Guangdong), Zhujixiang (a mountain village in which the ancestors of many Pearl River Delta clans settled), and the Overseas Chinese museums in Guangzhou, Jiangmen, and Taishan. 

Learn how to apply here. For questions and more information, contact us at info@friendsofroots.org