Trace the footsteps of overseas Cantonese, Taishanese, and Kaipingese. This is a journey designed for the Chinese diaspora and anyone drawn to the rich tapestry of Lingnan culture.

We begin in Guangzhou, the soul of Cantonese heritage, savoring its legendary cuisine and exploring ancestral temples, classical gardens, and centuries-old trading streets. Then, we will venture to Foshan, the cradle of Cantonese culture and martial arts, and Shunde, the gastronomic heart of Guangdong, before following the diaspora trail to Taishan and Kaiping, the regions that sent generations of Chinese immigrants to North America in the 19th and 20th centuries. There, we'll come face to face with the UNESCO-listed diaolous: fortified towers built by overseas Chinese as a promise to protect the families left behind and a testament to love that crossed oceans. 

Return to the land your ancestors left behind. In community. With intention.

Watch Our Taishan and Kaiping YouTube videos.

Background: Guangzhou (Canton), known as the "City of Flowers of Southern China", is the capital of Guangdong province, a historic port city (in 1757, it become the only port open to foreign trade), heart of Cantonese culture, and the most populous built-up metropolitan region in the world.

• Morning or Afternoon: Arrive at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport or Hong Kong International Airport. We will meet you either at the Guangzhou airport or Guangzhou South train station (has a direct train from Hong Kong West Kowloon Station).

• Check into hotel in Liwan District. Get settled and take a rest. Enjoy a Cantonese brunch. If needed, get a Chinese SIM card (we will help you go through this process).

• (Optional) Afternoon: Take a stroll through Liwan (Lychee Bay) Park to observe local life, architecture, and culture in the city's historic heart. Spanning 27 hectares, with over half its area made up of interconnected lake, this urban park is a peaceful retreat featuring a blend of water and greenery. Afterwards, visit Shamian Island, where colonial architecture tells the tale of Guangzhou's past as a concession port.

• Evening: Welcome dinner at a historical Cantonese restaurant in Liwan.

Accommodations: YAT House or equivalent.

Meals Included: On arrival day, brunch and welcome dinner is included.

Background: Guangzhou (Canton), known as the "City of Flowers of Southern China", is the capital of Guangdong province, a historic port city (in 1757, it become the only port open to foreign trade), heart of Cantonese culture, and the most populous built-up metropolitan region in the world.

• Morning: Start the day with a classic Dim Sum feast in the historic Liwan District. After breakfast, take a stroll through Liwan (Lychee Bay) Park to observe local life, architecture, and culture in the city's historic heart.

• Late Morning: We will visit the Liwan Museum to learn more about this historical business district of old Guangzhou. Continue to Yong Qing Fang, one of the city's most historic neighborhoods and home to Bruce Lee’s ancestral home.

• Afternoon: Visit the enchanting Shamian Island, where colonial architecture tells the tale of Guangzhou's past as a concession port. Later, continue to Beijing Road and Dafo Temple.

• Accommodations: YAT House or equivalent.

Background: Guangzhou (Canton), known as the "City of Flowers of Southern China", is the capital of Guangdong province, a historic port city (in 1757, it become the only port open to foreign trade), heart of Cantonese culture, and the most populous built-up metropolitan region in the world.

• Immerse yourself in the pinnacle of Cantonese craftsmanship at the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (陈家祠). This magnificent complex is renowned for its breathtaking wood, stone, and brick carvings.

• Stroll through the adjacent Shangxiangjiu Pedestrian Street, a modern area infused with traditional Lingnan architectural elements.

• Hike up to the preserved section of Guangzhou’s ancient city wall in Yuexiu Park, the city's largest green space. Here, you can see a visit the Five Rams statue (the city's emblem), and enjoy the tranquil lakes and gardens.

Optional Cultural Experience: For those interested, we will explore Xiaobei, a vibrant neighborhood known for its diverse African and Middle Eastern communities. This is a chance to take a break from Cantonese cuisine and sample authentic other regional and international dishes, such as Xinjiang-style lagman noodles, offering a glimpse into Guangzhou's dynamic, multicultural spaces.

Accommodations: YAT House or equivalent.

Background: Visit Foshan, a city that translates to "Buddha Mountain". This city is a historic city renowned as the "Cradle of Cantonese Culture", "City of Martial Arts," and a major ancestral homeland of overseas Chinese, including Bruce Lee's family. Foshan's reputation as a prosperous trade center dates back centuries but accelerated in the Ming and Qing dynasties with a focus on silk, textiles, embroidery, metal, paper, firecrackers, wood-carvings and more.

• Watch a traditional and vigorous Lion Dance performance at Zumiao, an ancient temple complex dedicated to the Northern God.  

• Explore classical Lingnan garden design at Liangyuan (Liang’s Garden), one of Guangdong's four famous classical gardens. Afterwards, we will stroll through Qiandenghu (Thousand Lantern Lake) park, a beautiful public space.

• Enjoy a special dinner with local friends to connect with the community. After dinner, we will explore the vibrant Lingnan Tiandi pedestrian street, a beautifully restored area of Foshan's old town blending historic architecture with modern life.

Accommodations: Lily One Court or equivalent.

Background: We travel to Shunde, now a district of Foshan, famed as the ancestral hometown of Bruce Lee. It is another important overseas Chinese region, with diaspora communities in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, India, and the Americas.

• Walk along the historic Qinghui Garden and Daliang Huagai Pedestrian Street and sample local Shunde delicacies such as double-skin buffalo milk pudding. Shunde is also known as the chef capital of the Guangzhou region

• Rent a bike as we bike around Shunfeng Mountain Park, a peaceful local park surrounded by mountains, pagodas, temples, and lakes. All bike paths are flat, marked and paved.

• [Optional] We will visit the Shunde Food Museum to learn about the history behind the region's legendary culinary arts.

• Put your new food knowledge to the test with a lavish dinner to savor legendary Shunde delicacies, which may include Shunde-style sashimi (鱼生), delicate fish hot pot, and the world-renowned Shunde roast goose.

Accommodations: Ye Shu Homestay or Equivalent

Background: Kaiping, along with the other neighbouring sub-prefectures or districts, Taishan, Xinhui and Enping, was one of the centers of Chinese emigration in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries to south-east Asia and North America (the United States and Canada). According to official figures, Kaiping has 1833 diaolous, most of which were built in the early 20th century. 

• We will start the day by visiting the Jiangmen Overseas Chinese Museum. Jiangmen is historically one of the largest sources of Chinese immigrants to North America from the 19th to the 20th century. If you trace your ancestry to Taishan or Kaiping, this is a perfect opportunity to dive deeper into your family history.

• After lunch, we will visit Cangdong Village, an important overseas Chinese village with residents who have immigrated to the US and Canada since the late 19th century. Visit the Cangdong Heritage Education Center, a joint initiative by Wuyi University and Stanford University to promote the cultural heritage of local village life and the role of Overseas Chinese in the Pearl River Delta.

• For the rest of the afternoon, we will drive around Kaiping, where we will visit the Kaiping Diaolou (including Zili Village and Li Garden). These fortified towers were built by wealthy overseas Chinese to protect their families while they were abroad and are now designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Accommodations: Liyuan Daoxiangxuanlou Boutique Homestay, Kaiping or equivalent

Background: Taishan (Hoisan) is a renowned "Hometown of Volleyball" in China, thanks to a century of overseas Chinese migration bringing back Western customs to Taishan. While there are 1 million people living in Taishan today, an estimated 1.3 million Taishanese people live overseas in 91+ countries, making Taishan the "First Home of Overseas Chinese".

• We will continue our journey exploring overseas Chinese heritage in the Taishan region.

• [Optional] We will meet with Professor Li, a fourth-generation descendant of a Chinese Cuban American immigrant and the founding curator of his family's diaolou museum. He will give us an exclusive tour of his family's diaolou and share stories from his family's immigration.

• In the afternoon, we will visit historical sites in Taishan, including the iconic Meijia Dayuan (梅家大院) and Haikou Village, where millions of overseas Chinese began their journeys abroad. We will visit a series of villages, schools, mansions, and diaolou towers built by the diaspora and learn more the legacies that they have left that continue to this day.

• In the evening, we will dine at a local Taishan restaurant housed in a restored schoolhouse donated by overseas Chinese. We will try local specialties such as Taishan yellow eel claypot rice and five flavored goose.

• [Hiking Day!] One of our two days in Taishan will be dedicated to hiking a local mountain!

Accommodations: Taishan City Inn or equivalent

• Enjoy a hearty buffet breakfast/brunch in Taishan.

• Conduct an exit interview with Grace & Yongjian. Let us know what we did well & what we could have improved on this trip.

• Enjoy a light lunch before departing by high speed train from Taishan to Guangzhou (1 hour).