i went back in 2023 to my ancestral village Liangbian, Heshan,what an unforgetable experience! More than a hundred years and four generations later I'm the first one who went back. My great-grandfather came to Malaysia from China.
Hello! I just wanted to thank you so much for making this video. I am a 5th/8th gen Canadian-born-Chinese; my family came from Hoisan in the late 1800's/early-1900s on both my paternal and maternal side. Only a few members of my family still speak Hoisan vah, and many of us younger generations have forgotten where it is we come from. Those who still have ties to our villages have passed away in recent years; I have been trying to learn more pieces of the puzzle that tells who we are. Your journey is truly inspiring and has really touched my heart. Thank you for your efforts and sharing, and thank you for encouraging me. Wishing you all the best!
Toisanese are spread all over the western hemisphere. They were the first Chinese to come to America . My great grandfather even lived and worked in Cuba for many years as i have been told by my 80 yo mother. Toisanese is not an easy dialect to understand for those not familiar with it. I can understand it thanks to my grandmother, but speaking it is more difficult. I have been to my fathers village in Canton , but have never been to my mothers village in Toisan. Was going to go to Asia last year, but we all know what happened. So you being Aust born chinese, i am surprised you can still speak some Chinese. i applaud you for searching for your roots.
Well, you the opposite of me! My dad was born in Baisha, Taishan and my mom in Kowloon, HK! i was born in Regina, Saskatchewan as my grandfather - Mah Hing-Gin - came to Canada as one of the last head Tax payers. He went to Prince Albert to work as kitchen help in a cousin's Diner who had left Taishan earlier. When my Grandpa was born, Taishan was known as Xinning. My mom was foru generations removed from her Hoiping/Kaiping ancestral roots. My gong gong - George Cheung Yuen-Long - was born in Hoiping, raised in Suva, Fiji returned to Canton to study business at Lingnan University. My great-grandpa - George Ah-Keat Cheung - moved his family to Kowloon in 1930!
@@CalWong1 Hi, Cal, My grandmother Mah Mah's maiden surname was Wong - Mah Wong Hung Hong. My dad Ma Wo-Hip who is 93 right now has not been back to Baisha since he left to study at Pui Ching Middle School. After my grandfather Yeh Yeh - Mah Hing Gin came to Canada in 1923 he only returned to Baisha three times - 1929, 1938 and 1947 when he decided was never goingto return the Baisha to retire because of the Communists.
Cal, i don't know if you speak any Taishanese or not? I don't but I do understand it. No one on my mother's side spoke Taishanese nor any other Siyi dialect. Even though my Gong Gong - Cheung George Yuen Long was born in Kaiping, he was raised in Suva, Fiji and spoke mostly English. My Pow Pow - Cheung Ng Mo-ching was a Guangzhou native and only mostly spoke Cantonese and some English. My mom - Jane Ma Cheung Ching-yin spoke English with her dad, Cantonese with her mother.
@@frederickma2193 Bula Vinaka Fred! I am a Wong and Ma descendent from teh same area. I suspect we are distantly related! Though the surrounding areas where I visit in the video are all mostly Wongs and Mas!
I have also gone back to my paternal ancestral home. Also my mother’s family in Foshan. There were people who also remembered my father when he was younger. He had moved to Hong Kong later with my grandparents, where I was later born. And then we immigrated to Edmonton, Canada. My last name, Ma. So glad I was able to make this journey of my roots. Thanks for sharing.
I went to my family's village (Quan) in Kaiping, Ghuanzhou china in 2010. I'm ABC. American Born. We also speak toisan. We took photos of our great grandparents and met some cousins.
I recently went to my mother's (Quan) village (Ng Lung village) in Kaiping, too. Shot a video of our visit and uploaded to CZcams. Only a couple of families still live there, most moved to Kaiping City or Guangzhou or emigrated. My mom's house was boarded up.
@@philc4285 We also went to Hoi Ping, China two summers ago. I was very lucky to have a written address to my mother's home as well as my father's (both in Hoi ping). We met up with our cousins at the Guangzhou train station after seeing the northern part of the country. If it wasn't for them, there's no way we would have found the old houses or the village for that matter. All the young people have all gone to live in the cities. My grand father build the house way back in the late 40s on his second returned from San Francisco sadly, it's now over grown with vegetation so I had to have it cleaned up. I have never experience hospitality like it before. Lessons learn for me to be a better host from now on. What broke me was all the people we met kept saying "You have come home to visit". We are already planning on a longer stay next trip.
@@look17111 That's cool. I like to go again, too. I'd stay in Hong Kong, bus it to Hoi Ping, stay at least couple of days and hire a driver to the village and also go to Chikan, closest city to Ng Lung Village, which is a tourist attractn now. Here's video I shot of Ng Lung Village: czcams.com/video/r0i37NbBV-c/video.html
@@philc4285 We stayed in Hong Kong for 10 days after that, an exciting city for sure. Next time we go, I like to spend more time and get to know my cousins and stay in Sanbo and explore more of the area. I had my cousins (Thankfully they spoke English and Dutch. My broken Chinese wouldn't go too far with the locals) hired some people and did the traditional visit to my grandmother's grave site. I was expecting them to be in a cementary, instead its just some place on the hill side only the locals know the locations of these places. I did this for my kids so they understand the pricess and the burnign of the fake money, and all the winderful rituals we never get to experience in the US . Chikan was closed for construction. I really wanted to see that place due to its history and my mother's village is near by.
No way!! My ancestry is Quan from Kaiping as well, I'm curious to see what common ancestry we may have. The traditional surname was written 關 and the village was ShangQiLing
I'm from toi cheng and in the beginning when you went back to look for your village and they didn't know you broke my heart. I'm first generation in america and I'm guessing anyone after me will never know what village we are from. My mom and dad rarely brings me back to their villages and I was born in the city. This hits really close to home for me.
Thanks for watching, it really was disappointing at the time. I was at a loss as to what to do. I was lucky that the taxi driver was so kind to drive me around afterwards.
Hoisan boy here too! Born in USA. I did understand his Hoisan Vah and noticed you pronounced some words in Cantonese too. All of our elders have passed and now our families are all racially mixed. Never been to China!. Thanks for the video!!
I am a Wong too from Singapore. My grandpa came from Toishan due to a drought which happened in the late 19th Century. He was a farmer and for a few years, there was no rain. He was forced to leave the village from the district of 潮境 to look for a livelihood. So, he went south to Singapore. So good to see the locale of Toishan and to appreciate the village life through your video.
@@CalWong1 I join the Wong Clan Association in Singapore. Of course, not all Wong’s are from Toishan. But, I can trace my ancestry to a high ranking court official 31 generations before my father, probably during the Southern Song Dynasty. We belong to the Kong Ha Wong.
Wow! Thank you for sharing this information. I had an idea that the people in our area were descended from Song officials fleeing South via Korea, but this makes it so much more real.
@@CalWong1 Not sure about Korea, but, according to the village genealogy record, my earliest ancestor documented was based in Putien (in Fujian province). He was given recognition by the emperor and his wife was accorded the honour as First Class Lady. The capital was then in Hangzhou. His son too was a government official based on the attire he wore. Both have portraits painted of them. Then, the Mongols came and conquered China. So, it was difficult time. Somehow through famine and civil strife, my line of Wong moved to where Guangdong is and settled down as farmers.
I went back to my ancestral village a few times already in Toisan. Many villages are empty these days or only left with a few old people. Most people move out to town. It is good that you get to see your village before they don’t exist anymore.
Great video and thanks for publishing it. Since my paternal grandma and my dad have passed away, I can only rely on my "gu" aunt to visit my ancestral home and meet the relatives who may still live there. Although she hardly visits her native hometown nowadays since all her siblings emigrated to the US years and years ago. At least I can envy these videos to get a glimpse of what my ancestral home looks like today.
Cal, what you did is ecstatic. You located your roots to some degree. My root is also from that area but I have lost all connections in trying to track them. Be safe.
In the US, there are 2 organizations which have considerable experience leading successful 'roots' trips. If you are interested, PM me. On my own trip, I was told, 'we didn't get much information, so we'll just see.' I was fortunate to meet the village historian who quoted my lineage chapter and verse.
My parents went back to their villages in the 90s, both lived in Hoisan. I got cousins who still live there. My mom is 93 now, still talks about the war and life in China during that period. They were poor but happy. Dad, not as much. He passed in his sleep several years ago. R.I.P. pop.
Hi Cal, how brave of you to go searching without much of specificity, but I love how helpful the villagers were - such kind hearts. Your video brings back a lot of nostalgia. The toisan dialect is so precious. Well done! It makes me want to make a visit to my ancestral home as well! Thank you!
I grew up in Vancouver, Canada 🇨🇦. My grandparents moved from Guangdong Province to Vancouver sometime in the early 60s or somewhere around that time. My grandfather is now turning 90 this year and it is hard for me to talk to him because I cannot speak Toi San or the language he is speaking. I’m very interested in learning my roots and where my ancestors grew up. I hope to visit my ancestral hometown hopefully soon!
Probably worthwhile asking your grandparents to write down the name of your village. It will be easier to find it that way later on. I visited my ancestral village (黄屋村 - Wong House Village, Kaiping) in 2018. My surname is also Wong and we found our ancestral book going back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Toi San, Hoi Ping or Kai Ping (Mandarin), Xin Hui and En Ping all speak the same Sei Yiap or Siyi dialect.
I’m very grateful to have a good amount of family back in Toisan. I was born here in America but my mom brought me back a lot. 2004,2005, 2012,2013 and two times 2019. My grandfather passed but I still have my grandma two uncles and cousins and aunts, but when they come to America then that will be the last of my family in Toisan
Thank you for sharing your personal journey to find your roots. It makes me feel nostalgic to hear all the old folks speaking my language. Earnest and helpful helpful grandmas and grandpas.
Such a great video! I grew up in Toronto and my dad is from Kaiping, mom from Guangzhou. I visited my dad's village at the end of 2019 right before the pandemic hit. Hearing the Toisan dialect always feels nostalgic, I'm like you I can understand it but I can only speak Cantonese back.
Wow, what are the odds? I grew up in San Francisco. My mom is from Guangzhou, my dad is from Kaiping and we have the same last name. I can understand Toisan but I can only respond in Cantonese
That is great! I wish I could do that. My father passed and he had changed his name to come to the US. He had brothers but lost track. He has passed and I know no info of our real surname it village. My Grandmother's side is Wong though.
Thank you so very much for this inspiring"short"! My husband's Grandfather Mun Jik Kwong (Candianized as Fong) came with his brother to Montreal circa 1901 as a young man and must have been sponsored?? as there was no head tax paid. According to the markings on his grave marker he may have been from Ming Feng, She Tze. One brother went to Cuba and one sister remained in Taishan. I have much work to do!!!
That's very interesting - I wonder if the name change was because he became a 'paper son' - assuming the identity of someone else who had previously got papers. My great grandfather changed his name from Wong to Ng/Eng
Thanks for this. I'm from NZ and my father is also from Toi Son, not sure where. Haven't been since I was 3 but watching this makes me want to go back and make sure the people that live there still are not forgotten and I will never let myself forget where my family comes from
Your video put me to tears. I hope to be lucky and get to go back to see my family's village one day and get to experience the same kindness you did. My family is all from Chiu King, so it was cool to hear it mentioned in your video.
Congratulations. I went on my ancestral trip with a group out of SF. It was so enlightening. 20 or so families finding their various ancestral villages. I found my dad but have yet to find my mom's. Therein lies a mystery, my mom married as a rich woman but her younger sister married as a poor one. We may never know why.
My great grandparents and grandparents left China over 60 years ago (my grandparents in their teens as paper sons, and by boat). Both sides of my family are toisan speaking but nobody can speak it anymore. Apparently the dialect is hoi ping or something like that, I'm not sure. My mom and dad have only been to china when their fathers passed away.
Hey Josh, Hoi Ping is the Canto pronunciation of the official Mandarin name for the county of 'Kaiping'. You'll easily find it on Google maps. In fact, in this video, I traveled from Hong Kong to Hoi Ping by bus before I went searching for my ancestral village. Together, Kaiping, Toisan, On Ping and Sun Wui comprise 'the umbrella term Toi San'. Similarly, the dialects of each county is mutually intelligible. My great grandfather was also a paper son. He is buried in Ohio somewhere. If you end up making the journey back and need some pointers, then do hit me up. I'll be more than happy to help where I can.
@@CalWong1 Thanks for such a detailed reply! My grandfather by blood is a Wong. I don't know him very well so I'm not sure what his village or town is. I only recently started to want to learn more about my family, but I'm sure I'll visit someday. One side of my family is a mess, but my mother knows where her ancestral village is.
This video makes me really want go back to toisan, the place I born. The longer I live in Toronto the more I want to visit my hometown. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.
Thankyou for sharing the video, I felt like I found a hidden gem! You did a great job of capturing the feeling of what it's like to return to Taishan (which would be really hard for me to describe). My grandparents was also in Taishan and I also grew up in Australia. Kudos to you for going back to Hong Kong that must've been some journey, sometimes I wish I could do the same. The video left me feeling like I woke up from a dream and realised for the longest time I was not alone and there is a whole alternate universe of people like us.
Hey Michael, thank you for your kind words! You definitely can do it! Start making a plan to do it, and with enough motivation, it will happen. I sat on my own plans for 5 years before biting the bullet. It was well worth it.
My aunt went to our families village in toisan a few years ago, my uncle Eddie was a Wong and passed away around the same time you made this video, and that village looks a lot like the picture my aunt took
Thank you for sharing this video. My beloved grandma passed away more than two years ago, so it was nice hearing Toisan being spoken again. Actually, both of my grandmas were born in Toisan.
This was so nostalgic and touching. My family lives in Toi san too in a village, the whole entire time i was eager to find if i saw any relatives. Awesoem video
Hello Cal. Nice job! My grandparents were from Italy, and I tracked down the roots. Eventually wrote a book about the village. My studies dealt with China. I have a feel for your connections to the ancestral home and history. Inspiring. Great appreciation for the elders and the life voyage.
Hi Cal. I enjoyed watching your video. I went back the first time in 2018 when I was already an old man. Mr Xi's China was moving ahead so fast I gotta be there to feel the vibes and pace of its development. Just prior to that I did my search and found distant cousins in the good old ancestral village. That came as a piece of good luck. That trip was truly heartwarming and made me want to go back again and again. My wish list was entirely different from yours. It was moot to even ask around from older relatives because no one would know and I was much older than most when we were gathered together. My village is Du-ruan, Xinhui, Jiangmen, or an hour or two from your Toisan. I visited Toisan and enjoyed its famous eel pot rice. Did you too? Cal, I notice you had a very conscientious taxi driver. Does he operate in Guangzhou? You still have his contact? My channel has only one posting and in it my email. Cheers and all the best.
Thanks for the great short film! My family is from Taicheng, my parents immigrated to Canada in the 90s. I was fortunate to have been able to travel back several times to my ancestral villages. This film was consequential to a lot of viewers that relate to your story.
This makes my Chinese side sad. Being "ho gi nui" paper born I can understand about 60% of what these kin folk speak. Alas, nothing left as our parents are gone. Only my 88 yo cousin and her eldest son (in China) in San Francisco knows where my parents house is in Tai San. I have the red paper deed. So sad my overseas familial orgins will never be met nor seen. My parents last saw home in 1947. I am an ABC.
Yes! Many of those people who migrated to the US passed through my Great Aunt's place in Jordan, Hong Kong, before heading to the US. It would be interesting to know if your mum did too.
Thanks for making and sharing this video. My father is Taishanese so this video has a special meeting to me. I'm happy that you found your ancestral village and I give you all the credit in the world for your tenacity. Love the spoken chinese and the english subtitles.
I'm a CBC from Vancouver and never been to Asia before unfortunately.... Only been to vacational places like Hawaii, Disneyland, Las Vegas etc... Wish to go to my grandparents village from where they are from one day. Fortunately they are still alive living in Vancouver but are old, so wouldn't be ideal to go back with them. Also I'm pretty sure that things have changed in their village since my grandparents from both dad and mom side immigrated to Canada like 60+ years ago, including my great great grandparents who had also lived in Vancouver during the Chinese Railroad .... My grandpa (dad) was born in Guangdong 番禺/Panyu (南村/NanCun) aka "PoonYue"(Lam Chuen) but grew up in Guangzhou, my grandma (dad) is Toisan, and my both my grandparents on mom side is both Panyu "PoonYue" as well, but different village/town that I can't recall.. But I'm very lucky that my great great grandparents, great grandparents are peacefully buried here in Vancouver... This way we can visit them during Ching Ming..
Great video. 0:352:58 It's interesting your use of go "back". I was also born overseas but we also always referred to "going back" to the ancestral village (in Poon Yue/Panyu) (返鄉下), even though we had never been before. :-) Your Cantonese is excellent. Good on you. 10:07 "Chiu On Village"!
wow your family left a long time aga, I had the oprotuntyi to make the trip this year, my grandfather is still laive I able to go to his house that his grandpa built and told me stories when I got back. We didn't get a chance but 白沙 has a lot of 馬 becasue thats my grandmas surname
Thank you for your wonderful documentary of your village search! It is full of the nitty-gritty of village trips that other documentaries ignore. I have never been to my ancestral village but vicariously via your film I "have"..thanks!
This is so cool! I am glad you were able to locate the village. I’ve been back a few times in my teens and wish I could go now as an adult but my grandfather is probably too old to go now sadly and as you said the last link. Thankful to have gone back though and have photos and such. Great Video!
Thank you so much for this video! Like so many people who have already commented, my family is also from Toi San. One day I hope to make a similar trip to find my ancestral village. Until then, I'm glad there's this video!
I know that Toisan is mostly popular for their seafood!!! I LOVE SEAFOOD! I remembered when my mama went back to her village/herng ha, she brought back a bunch of dried seafood and they were freakin AMAZING!!!
Thanks for sharing your adventure, how cool was that? I like how you lose your Aussie accent when you spoke Chinese! I'm a Wong too but my dad was from Canton, my mom was from Taishan and her last name was Li. I was born in Regina, Sk, Canada, 1st generation CBC and living now in Memphis, TN USA. Never been to China, maybe one day. I would go as a tourist because my Chinese is at a 3 year old level. Can hear but cannot speak. Anyways, good on ya mate! Thanks again.
Thanks for your kind words. China is another world, and I think going back as a tourist is a good idea! I would suggest going to the lesser known parts. People are kinder further away from the cities.
Thank you for the video. Were Wong’s and Ma’s generally in one town or were they spread out in different villages? The locals were so helpful just as they are here in Vancouver when we speak Toisan to each other. It’s like seeing old friends.
Cool little film - one day i hope I will be able to do something similar but there’s a few mysteries to solve yet - my ancestor came to New Zealand in the gold rush and had children with a Scottish woman but the kids were raised by another couple - I’ve only learned all this over recent years as I myself was raised by foster parents and had virtually no knowledge of my ancestry/ roots until a few years ago. Thank you for sharing your story..
Cal Thank you so much for your well produced tribute to your ancestry; very touching in it’s straightforwardness. We somehow always yearn for our deepest roots, especially Chinese I’m with you on this; visited my ancestral home a few years back, and had it restored Feel great about it Best of luck my friend Warmest, from San Francisco
Hello fellow chinese brother. My parents are from Kaiping (next to toi San) - we go back and visit every two years. From your video. You didn’t get a chance to go inside the house ?
Hi brother, no I didn't get to go inside. My family has been permanently away from the village for about 80 years, and in the 30 years before that time we were only there sporadically. A distant relative has laid claim/stewardship of it now. Though interestingly enough, she lives in Macau and rarely comes back either. In any case, I don't feel any sense of possessiveness over it, nor do I really want to lay claim to it. We've been away too long. We'll always be of Toi San descent - with or without a house!
Hi Cal. I wanted to drop you a mesage to say how much I enjoyed your journey to your ancestial village and what I can expect when I visit my mum's ancestial home near the Foshan district this year . Like you, I am Australian, and what I found amazing with your clip, was when you were speaking to the villagers, I could actually understand what you were saying...and I cannot speak or understand a word of Chinese (pure Aussie here! LOL!). You triggered a childhood memory! Can I ask - how did you feel seeing your ancestial home? Did anything change in you?Anyhow, regarding my trip, I am trying to do as much research as possible. I've spoken to my Aunts and Uncles here in Australia and found the actual location via Google Maps based on the historical home given to me by my Aunts and Uncle. My plan is to hire a guide and interpreter to take me there, and was wondering if you could offer me any tips for me.......Thanks once again!
Hey Andrew, I'm not too familiar with Foshan (other than Wong Fei Hung and the best lion dance heads!), but I understand it might be more developed than where my family is from. To be honest, I went in pretty blind. Like you, I had google maps coordinates, which were the right coordinates for the wrong village of the same name! However, in the countryside, I found people to be much nicer, more generous and infinitely friendlier than city folk. My cabbie ended up driving me around the whole day. That proved invaluable, because he knew to take me to the local village association, which had meticulous records. Personally, it was definitely a moment of growth, just imagining my grandparents and those before them living, playing, and growing up in those very same streets was mind-blowing. Seeing what the place looks like, and how people (still) live, gave me a huge sense of appreciation for the sacrifices and risks made by my ancestors so that their descendants might have a better life. It really is the human condition laid bare. I wish you only good things on your journey! Keep us posted!
Thank you for posting this video! I would love to go back to my family's ancestral village. My grandma who is 95 came over to Canada in 1954 and she does not read or write and I don't speak Chinese to communicate well enough with her. My grandfather is long passed and all that I know is that their house is still standing and someone in the village looks after it. Their surname is Quan as well and they speak Toi San
HI Deidre, you could try your luck on the Facebook group 'Taishan 台山 Hoisan' Perhaps you could record your grandma saying the name of her village and post it to that group. Very knowledgable, and full of us 2nd/3rd gen Toisanese. Wishing you the best of luck!
My grandparents migrated to Malaysia from Toisan, Mah is my last name and I wondered if we are somewhat related 😆 My grandparents and parents are no longer here, and I have very limited resources but I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to discover my roots
Hi Cal. My mother says our family is from Bak Sa. My grandfather came to the US in 1924. My father came to the US in 1955. Is it possible we are distantly related? My mom has 3 ‘sisters’ from the old country, one of them was a Wong…the four ‘sisters’ are in their 90s snd are all still alive, 2 in the SF bay area and 2 in the LA area. They are the last of their kind - from Hoiping/Bak Sa. Your documentary was awesome. We have occasional family meetings where the conversation sounds like this, definitely. Take care. My name is Kingston.
I'm Toishanese and I find this so funny because the way the people in Toisan talk. It sounds so rough and rude. But Toishanese is my first language when I was a baby.
Wonderful film and i experienced the same helpful people in the village. An experience which should be shown to the newer generation and your film is an excellent introduction.
Hey, I just stumbled on this video, and I was wondering is ~1:50 flimed in Kaiping/Sanbu? I recognize those river barriers really well and I think my grandma lives near the blue building in that frame.
Ann, you a Ma? related to ? First gen HBC hog kong born chinese. Make a huge family tree from scratch 2- some years ago. Lots of Ma's Chu's Wong's to expand.
Good video Someday i want go to visit my grandpa Village in Shuangmen. Shuangmen Village also part of Toishan ? Im the 2nd Generation rise and born in Indonesia. And i cant to speak any Chinese dialect lol
i went back in 2023 to my ancestral village Liangbian, Heshan,what an unforgetable experience! More than a hundred years and four generations later I'm the first one who went back. My great-grandfather came to Malaysia from China.
Hello! I just wanted to thank you so much for making this video. I am a 5th/8th gen Canadian-born-Chinese; my family came from Hoisan in the late 1800's/early-1900s on both my paternal and maternal side. Only a few members of my family still speak Hoisan vah, and many of us younger generations have forgotten where it is we come from. Those who still have ties to our villages have passed away in recent years; I have been trying to learn more pieces of the puzzle that tells who we are. Your journey is truly inspiring and has really touched my heart. Thank you for your efforts and sharing, and thank you for encouraging me. Wishing you all the best!
Thank you for your kind words. It's worth the effort, no matter how deep you have to dig to discover your roots. Wishing you every luck!
Toisanese are spread all over the western hemisphere. They were the first Chinese to come to America . My great grandfather even lived and worked in Cuba for many years as i have been told by my 80 yo mother. Toisanese is not an easy dialect to understand for those not familiar with it. I can understand it thanks to my grandmother, but speaking it is more difficult. I have been to my fathers village in Canton , but have never been to my mothers village in Toisan. Was going to go to Asia last year, but we all know what happened.
So you being Aust born chinese, i am surprised you can still speak some Chinese. i applaud you for searching for your roots.
Well, you the opposite of me! My dad was born in Baisha, Taishan and my mom in Kowloon, HK! i was born in Regina, Saskatchewan as my grandfather - Mah Hing-Gin - came to Canada as one of the last head Tax payers. He went to Prince Albert to work as kitchen help in a cousin's Diner who had left Taishan earlier. When my Grandpa was born, Taishan was known as Xinning. My mom was foru generations removed from her Hoiping/Kaiping ancestral roots. My gong gong - George Cheung Yuen-Long - was born in Hoiping, raised in Suva, Fiji returned to Canton to study business at Lingnan University. My great-grandpa - George Ah-Keat Cheung - moved his family to Kowloon in 1930!
@@frederickma2193 Amazing! My grandmother on the paternal side is also a Ma from the Baisha area!
@@CalWong1 Hi, Cal, My grandmother Mah Mah's maiden surname was Wong - Mah Wong Hung Hong. My dad Ma Wo-Hip who is 93 right now has not been back to Baisha since he left to study at Pui Ching Middle School. After my grandfather Yeh Yeh - Mah Hing Gin came to Canada in 1923 he only returned to Baisha three times - 1929, 1938 and 1947 when he decided was never goingto return the Baisha to retire because of the Communists.
Cal, i don't know if you speak any Taishanese or not? I don't but I do understand it. No one on my mother's side spoke Taishanese nor any other Siyi dialect. Even though my Gong Gong - Cheung George Yuen Long was born in Kaiping, he was raised in Suva, Fiji and spoke mostly English. My Pow Pow - Cheung Ng Mo-ching was a Guangzhou native and only mostly spoke Cantonese and some English. My mom - Jane Ma Cheung Ching-yin spoke English with her dad, Cantonese with her mother.
@@frederickma2193 Bula Vinaka Fred! I am a Wong and Ma descendent from teh same area. I suspect we are distantly related! Though the surrounding areas where I visit in the video are all mostly Wongs and Mas!
It’s great that you went back. I also have family in Taishan,
I have also gone back to my paternal ancestral home. Also my mother’s family in Foshan. There were people who also remembered my father when he was younger. He had moved to Hong Kong later with my grandparents, where I was later born. And then we immigrated to Edmonton, Canada. My last name, Ma. So glad I was able to make this journey of my roots. Thanks for sharing.
it's very nice to hear the Hoisan language
I went to my family's village (Quan) in Kaiping, Ghuanzhou china in 2010. I'm ABC. American Born. We also speak toisan. We took photos of our great grandparents and met some cousins.
I recently went to my mother's (Quan) village (Ng Lung village) in Kaiping, too. Shot a video of our visit and uploaded to CZcams. Only a couple of families still live there, most moved to Kaiping City or Guangzhou or emigrated. My mom's house was boarded up.
@@philc4285 We also went to Hoi Ping, China two summers ago. I was very lucky to have a written address to my mother's home as well as my father's (both in Hoi ping). We met up with our cousins at the Guangzhou train station after seeing the northern part of the country. If it wasn't for them, there's no way we would have found the old houses or the village for that matter. All the young people have all gone to live in the cities. My grand father build the house way back in the late 40s on his second returned from San Francisco sadly, it's now over grown with vegetation so I had to have it cleaned up. I have never experience hospitality like it before. Lessons learn for me to be a better host from now on. What broke me was all the people we met kept saying "You have come home to visit". We are already planning on a longer stay next trip.
@@look17111 That's cool. I like to go again, too. I'd stay in Hong Kong, bus it to Hoi Ping, stay at least couple of days and hire a driver to the village and also go to Chikan, closest city to Ng Lung Village, which is a tourist attractn now. Here's video I shot of Ng Lung Village: czcams.com/video/r0i37NbBV-c/video.html
@@philc4285 We stayed in Hong Kong for 10 days after that, an exciting city for sure. Next time we go, I like to spend more time and get to know my cousins and stay in Sanbo and explore more of the area. I had my cousins (Thankfully they spoke English and Dutch. My broken Chinese wouldn't go too far with the locals) hired some people and did the traditional visit to my grandmother's grave site. I was expecting them to be in a cementary, instead its just some place on the hill side only the locals know the locations of these places. I did this for my kids so they understand the pricess and the burnign of the fake money, and all the winderful rituals we never get to experience in the US . Chikan was closed for construction. I really wanted to see that place due to its history and my mother's village is near by.
No way!! My ancestry is Quan from Kaiping as well, I'm curious to see what common ancestry we may have. The traditional surname was written 關 and the village was ShangQiLing
I'm from toi cheng and in the beginning when you went back to look for your village and they didn't know you broke my heart. I'm first generation in america and I'm guessing anyone after me will never know what village we are from. My mom and dad rarely brings me back to their villages and I was born in the city. This hits really close to home for me.
Thanks for watching, it really was disappointing at the time. I was at a loss as to what to do. I was lucky that the taxi driver was so kind to drive me around afterwards.
Hoisan boy here too! Born in USA. I did understand his Hoisan Vah and noticed you pronounced some words in Cantonese too. All of our elders have passed and now our families are all racially mixed. Never been to China!. Thanks for the video!!
I am a Wong too from Singapore. My grandpa came from Toishan due to a drought which happened in the late 19th Century. He was a farmer and for a few years, there was no rain. He was forced to leave the village from the district of 潮境 to look for a livelihood. So, he went south to Singapore. So good to see the locale of Toishan and to appreciate the village life through your video.
We're related!
So glad to connect with you here!
@@CalWong1 I join the Wong Clan Association in Singapore. Of course, not all Wong’s are from Toishan. But, I can trace my ancestry to a high ranking court official 31 generations before my father, probably during the Southern Song Dynasty. We belong to the Kong Ha Wong.
Wow! Thank you for sharing this information. I had an idea that the people in our area were descended from Song officials fleeing South via Korea, but this makes it so much more real.
@@CalWong1 Not sure about Korea, but, according to the village genealogy record, my earliest ancestor documented was based in Putien (in Fujian province). He was given recognition by the emperor and his wife was accorded the honour as First Class Lady. The capital was then in Hangzhou. His son too was a government official based on the attire he wore. Both have portraits painted of them. Then, the Mongols came and conquered China. So, it was difficult time. Somehow through famine and civil strife, my line of Wong moved to where Guangdong is and settled down as farmers.
I went back to my ancestral village a few times already in Toisan. Many villages are empty these days or only left with a few old people. Most people move out to town. It is good that you get to see your village before they don’t exist anymore.
Great video and thanks for publishing it. Since my paternal grandma and my dad have passed away, I can only rely on my "gu" aunt to visit my ancestral home and meet the relatives who may still live there. Although she hardly visits her native hometown nowadays since all her siblings emigrated to the US years and years ago. At least I can envy these videos to get a glimpse of what my ancestral home looks like today.
Cal, what you did is ecstatic. You located your roots to some degree. My root is also from that area but I have lost all connections in trying to track them. Be safe.
Thanks Kit. I wish you luck in finding what you're looking for.
In the US, there are 2 organizations which have considerable experience leading successful 'roots' trips. If you are interested, PM me. On my own trip, I was told, 'we didn't get much information, so we'll just see.' I was fortunate to meet the village historian who quoted my lineage chapter and verse.
People seemed to be down to earth when I went there. It's the slow life that I enjoyed. Thanks for sharing!
My parents went back to their villages in the 90s, both lived in Hoisan. I got cousins who still live there. My mom is 93 now, still talks about the war and life in China during that period. They were poor but happy. Dad, not as much. He passed in his sleep several years ago. R.I.P. pop.
Hi Cal, how brave of you to go searching without much of specificity, but I love how helpful the villagers were - such kind hearts. Your video brings back a lot of nostalgia. The toisan dialect is so precious. Well done! It makes me want to make a visit to my ancestral home as well! Thank you!
Thank you so much! This means a lot to me.
My family speak the same language! I fortunate enough to pick up this language. I was born in indonesia!
I grew up in Vancouver, Canada 🇨🇦. My grandparents moved from Guangdong Province to Vancouver sometime in the early 60s or somewhere around that time. My grandfather is now turning 90 this year and it is hard for me to talk to him because I cannot speak Toi San or the language he is speaking. I’m very interested in learning my roots and where my ancestors grew up. I hope to visit my ancestral hometown hopefully soon!
Probably worthwhile asking your grandparents to write down the name of your village. It will be easier to find it that way later on. I visited my ancestral village (黄屋村 - Wong House Village, Kaiping) in 2018. My surname is also Wong and we found our ancestral book going back to the Southern Song Dynasty. Toi San, Hoi Ping or Kai Ping (Mandarin), Xin Hui and En Ping all speak the same Sei Yiap or Siyi dialect.
I’m very grateful to have a good amount of family back in Toisan. I was born here in America but my mom brought me back a lot. 2004,2005, 2012,2013 and two times 2019. My grandfather passed but I still have my grandma two uncles and cousins and aunts, but when they come to America then that will be the last of my family in Toisan
Thanks for sharing, Derek. We come from a special place.
3:59, he said “ she would’ve been over a hundred years old if she’s still alive”
Thank you for sharing your personal journey to find your roots. It makes me feel nostalgic to hear all the old folks speaking my language. Earnest and helpful helpful grandmas and grandpas.
Thank you for watching!
You're absolutely right, it was very heartening. I could tell they cared about my plight.
Keep up the great work. I am now in Toronto, Canada. I came from a village(Zhong Wu Le)
eight kilometers from Bak Sa.
Such a great video! I grew up in Toronto and my dad is from Kaiping, mom from Guangzhou. I visited my dad's village at the end of 2019 right before the pandemic hit. Hearing the Toisan dialect always feels nostalgic, I'm like you I can understand it but I can only speak Cantonese back.
Thanks Bonnie! Completely agree, hearing it brings so many emotions!
Wow, what are the odds? I grew up in San Francisco. My mom is from Guangzhou, my dad is from Kaiping and we have the same last name. I can understand Toisan but I can only respond in Cantonese
That is great! I wish I could do that. My father passed and he had changed his name to come to the US. He had brothers but lost track. He has passed and I know no info of our real surname it village. My Grandmother's side is Wong though.
this was so touching !! everyone was so eager to help you too :') hopefully one day i can experience this as well
It warmed my heart!
Toisan, as with many parts of rural Southern China, are full of super friendly people. It's a far cry from the stereotypes!
Thank you so very much for this inspiring"short"! My husband's Grandfather Mun Jik Kwong (Candianized as Fong) came with his brother to Montreal circa 1901 as a young man and must have been sponsored?? as there was no head tax paid. According to the markings on his grave marker he may have been from Ming Feng, She Tze. One brother went to Cuba and one sister remained in Taishan. I have much work to do!!!
That's very interesting - I wonder if the name change was because he became a 'paper son' - assuming the identity of someone else who had previously got papers.
My great grandfather changed his name from Wong to Ng/Eng
Fong is not “Canadianized”…
鄺/邝 is Kwong in Standard Cantonese and Fong in Toisanese.
Thanks for this. I'm from NZ and my father is also from Toi Son, not sure where. Haven't been since I was 3 but watching this makes me want to go back and make sure the people that live there still are not forgotten and I will never let myself forget where my family comes from
Good motivation, bro. Returning gave me a sense of belonging. To think that all my ancestors stepped through those paths was a little mind-blowing.
Your video put me to tears. I hope to be lucky and get to go back to see my family's village one day and get to experience the same kindness you did. My family is all from Chiu King, so it was cool to hear it mentioned in your video.
Hey, thanks for watching and good luck with the return, cuz!
It will happen if you want it badly enough!
Congratulations. I went on my ancestral trip with a group out of SF. It was so enlightening. 20 or so families finding their various ancestral villages. I found my dad but have yet to find my mom's. Therein lies a mystery, my mom married as a rich woman but her younger sister married as a poor one. We may never know why.
Been thinking about this for some period of time. Will do it after covid. My ancestral town is in Fujian
My great grandparents and grandparents left China over 60 years ago (my grandparents in their teens as paper sons, and by boat). Both sides of my family are toisan speaking but nobody can speak it anymore. Apparently the dialect is hoi ping or something like that, I'm not sure. My mom and dad have only been to china when their fathers passed away.
Hey Josh, Hoi Ping is the Canto pronunciation of the official Mandarin name for the county of 'Kaiping'. You'll easily find it on Google maps. In fact, in this video, I traveled from Hong Kong to Hoi Ping by bus before I went searching for my ancestral village.
Together, Kaiping, Toisan, On Ping and Sun Wui comprise 'the umbrella term Toi San'. Similarly, the dialects of each county is mutually intelligible.
My great grandfather was also a paper son. He is buried in Ohio somewhere.
If you end up making the journey back and need some pointers, then do hit me up. I'll be more than happy to help where I can.
@@CalWong1 Thanks for such a detailed reply! My grandfather by blood is a Wong. I don't know him very well so I'm not sure what his village or town is. I only recently started to want to learn more about my family, but I'm sure I'll visit someday. One side of my family is a mess, but my mother knows where her ancestral village is.
@@Josh-bf6ht Good luck, brother!
This video makes me really want go back to toisan, the place I born. The longer I live in Toronto the more I want to visit my hometown. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.
GOD BLESS YOU !
this was so informative and important! I visited my parents' hometown in toisan 2018! l
Amazing experience right?
@@CalWong1 it was! I can't wait to visit again
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My mama (dad's mom) surname is also Ma! Usually Toisan surname/last name is "Wong, Ma, Yee, Chiu". Panyu a lot of "Chow/Zhou, Sum, Yip"
Thankyou for sharing the video, I felt like I found a hidden gem! You did a great job of capturing the feeling of what it's like to return to Taishan (which would be really hard for me to describe). My grandparents was also in Taishan and I also grew up in Australia. Kudos to you for going back to Hong Kong that must've been some journey, sometimes I wish I could do the same. The video left me feeling like I woke up from a dream and realised for the longest time I was not alone and there is a whole alternate universe of people like us.
Hey Michael, thank you for your kind words! You definitely can do it! Start making a plan to do it, and with enough motivation, it will happen. I sat on my own plans for 5 years before biting the bullet. It was well worth it.
My aunt went to our families village in toisan a few years ago, my uncle Eddie was a Wong and passed away around the same time you made this video, and that village looks a lot like the picture my aunt took
I wonder! Most of my extended North America family have settled in LA and San Francisco, if that gives any clues.
@@CalWong1 much of my family immigrated to CA and MA though my grandparents came to canada
I'm Taishanese I loved this made me emotional.
Thanks for watching and appreciating! 🙇♂️
Enjoyed your video. I am toisan taishan hoisan
Thank you for sharing this video. My beloved grandma passed away more than two years ago, so it was nice hearing Toisan being spoken again. Actually, both of my grandmas were born in Toisan.
U r so great !
Aww this was great!
Thank you for sharing. My dad, Toye Moon Pon came to Canada in 1929. It’s great to see a bit of my home village.
My maternal grandfather was a Choi from Toishan. Maternal grandmother, Li also Toishan. We could be related :-)
I love this, great work champ. I'm binge watching videos of those making the pilgrimage to their ancestral homeland of Taishan.
thanks for sharing
I have been this village 26 years ago when i was living in China. Everything seems like the same as before.
Kitsty Ng Thanks for watching! I guess things change slowly in the old country
my grandpa was from Toishan. Migrated to Singapore in about 1940. with regret our generation does not know much about our ancestral home/root.
This was so nostalgic and touching. My family lives in Toi san too in a village, the whole entire time i was eager to find if i saw any relatives. Awesoem video
Thank you so much!
Hello Cal. Nice job! My grandparents were from Italy, and I tracked down the roots. Eventually wrote a book about the village. My studies dealt with China. I have a feel for your connections to the ancestral home and history. Inspiring. Great appreciation for the elders and the life voyage.
Thank you for your kind words, Michael. Would love to read your book!
Hi Cal. I enjoyed watching your video. I went back the first time in 2018 when I was already an old man. Mr Xi's China was moving ahead so fast I gotta be there to feel the vibes and pace of its development. Just prior to that I did my search and found distant cousins in the good old ancestral village. That came as a piece of good luck. That trip was truly heartwarming and made me want to go back again and again. My wish list was entirely different from yours. It was moot to even ask around from older relatives because no one would know and I was much older than most when we were gathered together. My village is Du-ruan, Xinhui, Jiangmen, or an hour or two from your Toisan. I visited Toisan and enjoyed its famous eel pot rice. Did you too? Cal, I notice you had a very conscientious taxi driver. Does he operate in Guangzhou? You still have his contact? My channel has only one posting and in it my email. Cheers and all the best.
You fortunate to tag up with your relatives. Good for you.
Thanks for the great short film! My family is from Taicheng, my parents immigrated to Canada in the 90s. I was fortunate to have been able to travel back several times to my ancestral villages. This film was consequential to a lot of viewers that relate to your story.
Hi Ricky, thank you for watching and for your words of support!
This makes my Chinese side sad. Being "ho gi nui" paper born I can understand about 60% of what these kin folk speak. Alas, nothing left as our parents are gone. Only my 88 yo cousin and her eldest son (in China) in San Francisco knows where my parents house is in Tai San. I have the red paper deed. So sad my overseas familial orgins will never be met nor seen. My parents last saw home in 1947. I am an ABC.
@Carl Wong, my mom was born in Chui-On village. A lot of people from that village immigrated to the US.
Yes! Many of those people who migrated to the US passed through my Great Aunt's place in Jordan, Hong Kong, before heading to the US. It would be interesting to know if your mum did too.
Thanks for making and sharing this video. My father is Taishanese so this video has a special meeting to me. I'm happy that you found your ancestral village and I give you all the credit in the world for your tenacity. Love the spoken chinese and the english subtitles.
Congratulations on finding your ancestral home! Your village is probably not too far from mine, I'm also a Wong
Thank you! There are a few Wong villages around mine, I think we have clustered there. Amazing to visit!
Amazing journey. The Toisan villagers were all so friendly and welcoming. Wonderful that you met someone who knew your grandfather.
Thank you for watching! It was an amazing experience. I have found that rural villages tend to be more friendly no matter which country!
I wish to take my kids back to my home village one day.
I'm an ABC and went to Toisan with my dad in 2013 for the first time to see my ancestral home. I wish I had a real camera and took more footage.
Thank GOD bring u home !
I'm a CBC from Vancouver and never been to Asia before unfortunately.... Only been to vacational places like Hawaii, Disneyland, Las Vegas etc... Wish to go to my grandparents village from where they are from one day. Fortunately they are still alive living in Vancouver but are old, so wouldn't be ideal to go back with them. Also I'm pretty sure that things have changed in their village since my grandparents from both dad and mom side immigrated to Canada like 60+ years ago, including my great great grandparents who had also lived in Vancouver during the Chinese Railroad .... My grandpa (dad) was born in Guangdong 番禺/Panyu (南村/NanCun) aka "PoonYue"(Lam Chuen) but grew up in Guangzhou, my grandma (dad) is Toisan, and my both my grandparents on mom side is both Panyu "PoonYue" as well, but different village/town that I can't recall.. But I'm very lucky that my great great grandparents, great grandparents are peacefully buried here in Vancouver... This way we can visit them during Ching Ming..
Do it. It will be lifechanger.
ABC or CBC found the root in TaiShen.
It really help you searched about you root because you speak Chinese great video the village I heard about it
Went to my family's village too in Kaiping!
Such an amazing experience isn't it?!
@@CalWong1 Yes! Amazing their house is still in good condition. I enjoyed people's hospitality too.
@@wetlikewater1875 Me too! It really broke my expectations - in a pleasant way!
Great video. 0:35 2:58 It's interesting your use of go "back". I was also born overseas but we also always referred to "going back" to the ancestral village (in Poon Yue/Panyu) (返鄉下), even though we had never been before. :-) Your Cantonese is excellent. Good on you. 10:07 "Chiu On Village"!
Thanks! I guess we’ve always been taught that we belong to our heung ha!
That's awesome you were able to find and see where you grand dad and great aunt lived. What an beautiful journey.
Thank you for watching! I hope you enjoyed it!
wow your family left a long time aga, I had the oprotuntyi to make the trip this year, my grandfather is still laive I able to go to his house that his grandpa built and told me stories when I got back. We didn't get a chance but 白沙 has a lot of 馬 becasue thats my grandmas surname
Ma is my Grandma's surname!
Thank you for your wonderful documentary of your village search! It is full of the nitty-gritty of village trips that other documentaries ignore. I have never been to my ancestral village but vicariously via your film I "have"..thanks!
Thank you for watching, John! I really appreciate it.
This is so cool! I am glad you were able to locate the village. I’ve been back a few times in my teens and wish I could go now as an adult but my grandfather is probably too old to go now sadly and as you said the last link. Thankful to have gone back though and have photos and such. Great
Video!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Tiffany!
Thank you so much for this video! Like so many people who have already commented, my family is also from Toi San. One day I hope to make a similar trip to find my ancestral village. Until then, I'm glad there's this video!
Thanks for watching, Desmond. You should definitely make a plan to get there. It will be well worth it!
❤✌👍🙏
I know that Toisan is mostly popular for their seafood!!! I LOVE SEAFOOD! I remembered when my mama went back to her village/herng ha, she brought back a bunch of dried seafood and they were freakin AMAZING!!!
Thanks for sharing your adventure, how cool was that? I like how you lose your Aussie accent when you spoke Chinese! I'm a Wong too but my dad was from Canton, my mom was from Taishan and her last name was Li. I was born in Regina, Sk, Canada, 1st generation CBC and living now in Memphis, TN USA. Never been to China, maybe one day. I would go as a tourist because my Chinese is at a 3 year old level. Can hear but cannot speak. Anyways, good on ya mate! Thanks again.
Thanks for your kind words. China is another world, and I think going back as a tourist is a good idea! I would suggest going to the lesser known parts. People are kinder further away from the cities.
My ancestors are also from Toi San but i have never been there...very cool adventure
Thank you for the video. Were Wong’s and Ma’s generally in one town or were they spread out in different villages? The locals were so helpful just as they are here in Vancouver when we speak Toisan to each other. It’s like seeing old friends.
Cool little film - one day i hope I will be able to do something similar but there’s a few mysteries to solve yet - my ancestor came to New Zealand in the gold rush and had children with a Scottish woman but the kids were raised by another couple - I’ve only learned all this over recent years as I myself was raised by foster parents and had virtually no knowledge of my ancestry/ roots until a few years ago.
Thank you for sharing your story..
❤✌😄❤️ heart
I did similar trip to taishan to visit my grandfather village in tosian. Kinda hard to find, but it was good. Still have our family house there.
Cal
Thank you so much for your well produced tribute to your ancestry; very touching in it’s straightforwardness. We somehow always yearn for our deepest roots, especially Chinese
I’m with you on this; visited my ancestral home a few years back, and had it restored
Feel great about it
Best of luck my friend
Warmest, from San Francisco
Thank you for watching and for your kind words! 🙇♂️
This is beautiful to see! I just started entertaining the same idea for myself to journey to my ancestral homes in Kaiping. Be well!
Good luck!
Thanks for sharing the video. My parents were from Taishan and glad that I can see what the villages are like there. 👍🏻🙏🏻😄
Thanks for watching!
so comfort and so sad
Cal! Your canto is SO GOOD!!!!
Thank you! It wasn't always the case, I've lived in HK for 8 years, so that has definitely helped!
Wait, so he wasn't speaking the Taishanese dialect? Excuse my ignorance, is there a massive difference?
@@RealmofGenghisKhan Toisan/Taishan is pretty much a dialect of cantonese. Just the tones and grammars are different.
Hello fellow chinese brother. My parents are from Kaiping (next to toi San) - we go back and visit every two years.
From your video. You didn’t get a chance to go inside the house ?
Hi brother, no I didn't get to go inside. My family has been permanently away from the village for about 80 years, and in the 30 years before that time we were only there sporadically. A distant relative has laid claim/stewardship of it now. Though interestingly enough, she lives in Macau and rarely comes back either.
In any case, I don't feel any sense of possessiveness over it, nor do I really want to lay claim to it. We've been away too long.
We'll always be of Toi San descent - with or without a house!
Hi Cal. I wanted to drop you a mesage to say how much I enjoyed your journey to your ancestial village and what I can expect when I visit my mum's ancestial home near the Foshan district this year . Like you, I am Australian, and what I found amazing with your clip, was when you were speaking to the villagers, I could actually understand what you were saying...and I cannot speak or understand a word of Chinese (pure Aussie here! LOL!). You triggered a childhood memory! Can I ask - how did you feel seeing your ancestial home? Did anything change in you?Anyhow, regarding my trip, I am trying to do as much research as possible. I've spoken to my Aunts and Uncles here in Australia and found the actual location via Google Maps based on the historical home given to me by my Aunts and Uncle. My plan is to hire a guide and interpreter to take me there, and was wondering if you could offer me any tips for me.......Thanks once again!
Hey Andrew, I'm not too familiar with Foshan (other than Wong Fei Hung and the best lion dance heads!), but I understand it might be more developed than where my family is from.
To be honest, I went in pretty blind. Like you, I had google maps coordinates, which were the right coordinates for the wrong village of the same name!
However, in the countryside, I found people to be much nicer, more generous and infinitely friendlier than city folk. My cabbie ended up driving me around the whole day. That proved invaluable, because he knew to take me to the local village association, which had meticulous records.
Personally, it was definitely a moment of growth, just imagining my grandparents and those before them living, playing, and growing up in those very same streets was mind-blowing. Seeing what the place looks like, and how people (still) live, gave me a huge sense of appreciation for the sacrifices and risks made by my ancestors so that their descendants might have a better life. It really is the human condition laid bare.
I wish you only good things on your journey! Keep us posted!
台山also my home town as well mate
Thank you for posting this video! I would love to go back to my family's ancestral village. My grandma who is 95 came over to Canada in 1954 and she does not read or write and I don't speak Chinese to communicate well enough with her. My grandfather is long passed and all that I know is that their house is still standing and someone in the village looks after it. Their surname is Quan as well and they speak Toi San
HI Deidre, you could try your luck on the Facebook group 'Taishan 台山 Hoisan'
Perhaps you could record your grandma saying the name of her village and post it to that group. Very knowledgable, and full of us 2nd/3rd gen Toisanese.
Wishing you the best of luck!
Same journey for me. Found the Kaiping watch tower that my GGF builtnwith his name on the building! Restoring it now.
Wow that's amazing!
My grandparents migrated to Malaysia from Toisan, Mah is my last name and I wondered if we are somewhat related 😆
My grandparents and parents are no longer here, and I have very limited resources but I’m hoping one day I’ll be able to discover my roots
Hi Cal. My mother says our family is from Bak Sa. My grandfather came to the US in 1924. My father came to the US in 1955. Is it possible we are distantly related? My mom has 3 ‘sisters’ from the old country, one of them was a Wong…the four ‘sisters’ are in their 90s snd are all still alive, 2 in the SF bay area and 2 in the LA area. They are the last of their kind - from Hoiping/Bak Sa. Your documentary was awesome. We have occasional family meetings where the conversation sounds like this, definitely. Take care. My name is Kingston.
I'm Toishanese and I find this so funny because the way the people in Toisan talk. It sounds so rough and rude. But Toishanese is my first language when I was a baby.
Wonderful film and i experienced the same helpful people in the village. An experience which should be shown to the newer generation and your film is an excellent introduction.
Thank you for your kind words, Joseph!
Hey, I just stumbled on this video, and I was wondering is ~1:50 flimed in Kaiping/Sanbu? I recognize those river barriers really well and I think my grandma lives near the blue building in that frame.
Yes! I traveled to Kaiping from Hong Kong by bus.
Did you ever make it to Bak Sa? Great video btw... thanks for sharing !
Hi Ann, thank you for your kind words.
No, I never made it out there. Maybe next time if I go back!
Ann, you a Ma? related to ? First gen HBC hog kong born chinese. Make a huge family tree from scratch 2- some years ago. Lots of Ma's Chu's Wong's to expand.
on the "unintelligible" part of the subtitle (3:58) what he said was "if he was still alive he would be over hundred years old"
damn awesome vid, i can hear ur hong kong/cantonese accent in your chinese. Happens to me too even when im talking to my gma
Thanks for watching & your kind words, Jackie!
Good video
Someday i want go to visit my grandpa Village in Shuangmen.
Shuangmen Village also part of Toishan ?
Im the 2nd Generation rise and born in Indonesia.
And i cant to speak any Chinese dialect lol
Bak Sa (White Sand) is Ma, Mah Chui King-Wong Mit Chung- Lee's and Ng's
Really nice video! My ancestral home is also Taishan and i wish i knew Taishanese so i could talk to the villagers :(
You'll get by if you can speak Cantonese!
My grandmother on my dad side was a Ma Kit Ching. My grandpa was Wong Gam
Is your family from the Ba Sha (White Sand) area? If you are, then we're probably family, bro!
Good day Cal, where is the Wong ancestry registry building (@ 7.28)you got your information from ? Thank you.
Wuuuh life is so simple in toisan. Not much car no big crowd
Yes, there are no maddening crowds! Plenty of space and nice people.
Life seems relatively simple.
This video does make me realize life was far more simple here, even if I see many huge factories and tall buildings start getting built.
你終究踏上了太爺的家鄉...故人的土地!
你是幸運的!
Now, i think all elders have to write down the address in China before they past away.