Recalling the past of my hometown and hoping for the continuation of my hometown sentiment. Beijing | Mainland | Hometown

Beijing, August 17th, China News Agency (Xinhua) - Question: Recalling the past of my hometown and hoping for the continuation of the local sentiment

——Visiting delegation from fellow villagers in mainland Taiwan

Author Zhu He

"Guangdong is my father's hometown, but for us younger generations, it has become my hometown," said Wei Guowei, the founding president of the Kaohsiung Association of Association Directors and 70 year old, in a recent interview with China News Agency in Beijing.

At the invitation of the National Taiwan Federation, a visiting delegation consisting of the chairpersons of mainland Chinese hometown associations from 17 provinces and cities in Taiwan, including Fujian, Hunan, Henan, Guangdong, Jilin, and Zhejiang, including Wei Guowei, visited Beijing, Hebei, and other places from the 10th to the 17th. Most of the visitors are the second generation of those who came from mainland China to Taiwan in the 1940s. During their trip, they recalled the hometown memories that their parents often told them, and hoped that this hometown sentiment would continue to be maintained among the younger generation.

In the early years, Wei Guowei's parents came to Taiwan from Guangdong. The mother often tells her children stories of life with her sisters in the mainland when she was young. "It's sad when I talk about it"; A father who is not good at speaking is less likely to express his longing for his family and hometown in daily life. However, in his later years, he donated about half of his retirement pension to his hometown school.

At the age of 55, Wei Guowei took over the position of Chairman of the Guangdong Association in Kaohsiung City. Recalling that when he joined the association in his thirties, the size of the association was about seven to eight hundred people, but by the time he took over, it had shrunk to about four hundred people. Although Wei Guowei attempted to innovate the form of activities to recruit members, he was only able to attract middle-aged fellow countrymen of his age. He hopes that future generations will have a greater sense of identification with their fellow townspeople and the mainland of their motherland. Taiwanese youth often return to their hometowns to visit and strengthen exchanges between peers on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, which is a very important way.

Visiting delegation leader Luo Hongbin stated that under the instigation of cross-strait confrontation and "de Sinicization" manipulation by the Democratic Progressive Party authorities, the understanding of the mainland by young people in Taiwan has become increasingly diluted. Therefore, it is more necessary for knowledgeable individuals to maintain emotional connections between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and increase efforts to promote cross-strait civil exchanges.

During the visit, Zhang Mingcheng, honorary chairman of the Henan Fellowship Association of Kaohsiung City, who had not returned to his hometown of Xinxiang, Henan Province for a long time due to the COVID-19, specially arranged a return trip. He is most concerned about the education and inheritance issues of the youth group, and hopes that innovative forms can help Taiwanese youth understand the history of the Chinese nation.

Wu Bensen, whose hometown is Yueyang, Hunan, has been serving as the chairman of the Hunan Association in Kaohsiung City for eight years. When he was young, Wu Bensen often listened to his father reminiscing about his hometown. Hunan cuisine prefers spicy food, and his father's catchphrase "if you don't eat spicy food, you're not from Hunan" further connects Wu Bensen's childhood. This has kept Wu Bensen's hometown in his heart, and his true understanding of the land of Sanxiang and the national atmosphere it nurtures was only after he joined the fellow townspeople association.

During the Sino French War in 1884, thousands of Hunan soldiers crossed the sea to defend Taiwan. Many officers and soldiers died in battle, and their loyal bones were buried here. During an event, a fellow villager from Taiwan and Hunan was invited to visit the Tamsui Xiang Army Cemetery. It was only then that Wu Bensen realized the profound connection between Taiwan and Hunan. "Hunan's ancestors not only defended the island with their lives, but also made important contributions to the local development and construction.".

The fellow townspeople association also provides important support for villagers to seek their hometown. Wu Bensen often helps his fellow villagers return to Hunan to find their roots. Although only two or three cases have truly succeeded in finding relatives over the years, every time he returns to Hunan, the rapid development of the local area refreshes Wu Bensen's understanding.

During this visit, Wei Guowei praised the urban construction and planning of Xiong'an New Area and Beijing Tongzhou.

23-year-old Taiwanese youth Ma Yongxu is a "first generation". With his mother Chen Shipu's visit, he felt the enthusiasm of the Beijing people and was deeply impressed by the unique cuisine and convenient living facilities such as roast duck. The big family he belongs to has a deep tradition of patriotism and love for his hometown. His mother is from Hubei, his father is from Qinghai, and his grandparents have been involved in the Anti Japanese War on the mainland.

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