Ideal Months: Jan - Mar, Oct - Dec

Duration: 10 days

Tracing the Pearl River Delta:
A Cantonese Homecoming

Trace the footsteps of overseas Cantonese, Toisanese, Kaipingese and Hakka (in Hong Kong). Designed for overseas Chinese and those interested in Southern Chinese culture and history. Start in Hong Kong where we'll explore ancient Hakka and Cantonese villages in the New Territories. We'll then delve into the heart of Cantonese culture in Guangzhou, savoring renowned Cantonese dishes and exploring ancestral temples, Lingnan style gardens, and historical business districts. Our journey continues to Jiangmen (Kongmoon), Taishan (Toisan) and Kaiping (Hoiping), which are historically some of the largest sources of Chinese immigrants to North America in the 19th–20th centuries. There we will visit iconic UNESCO World Heritage diaolous, residential watchtowers built by overseas Chinese.

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Who This Experience Is For

Curious Returnee

If you are an immigrant, child/grandchild/great-grandchild of immigrants, third culture kid or an adoptee who has rarely had an opportunity to go back to your motherland, this trip gives you a chance to dive deep into your ancestors' history in a way that is deeply personal.

Reflective, Community Oriented Traveler

During our trip, Grace and Yongjian will lead guided breakout sessions designed to foster emotional connection and a sense of community. We will have the opportunity to talk about our immigrant family experiences and have conversations about the conflicts we have with our identity in a safe space.

Overseas Chinese History Enthusiast

Overseas Chinese History is often reduced to the typical "coolie" narrative - overlooked in classes and stereotyped as railroad and restaurant workers. By visiting museums and villages, this trip will teach you about the wider stories that shaped the overseas Chinese experience - one of resilience, reinvention, and remarkable contributions.

Note: Itinerary may change, changes will be communicated to travelers in advance when possible.

Itinerary

Get oriented on Day 1 in Hong Kong. Because travelers will be arriving at various times throughout this day, this is a free day for you to decide what you'd like to do. In the evening, we will all meet for a welcome dinner.

On Day 2, we begin with a day-long excursion to Hakka villages in the New Territories) to learn more about the Hakka people who migrated from Guangdong to Hong Kong.
Morning: Welcome to Mainland China! We start in Shenzhen, a city that transformed from a fishing village into a global center of technology, manufacturing, commerce, and commerce following its designation as China’s first Special Economic Zone in 1980.

We'll begin the day with a local Cantonese breakfast of Dim Sum. We will help you in getting set up with local SIM cards and payment applications for easy connectivity throughout your China journey.

Afternoon - Exploration & Shopping: Experience modern Shenzhen firsthand. We will visit the renowned MixC mall, a premier shopping destination. Here you can explore luxury brands (tax-free for eligible visitors), and perhaps browse its famous bookstore, an architectural and cultural landmark.

Evening: Enjoy dinner in Shenzhen. We will take a comfortable high-speed train (approx. 1-hour journey) to Guangzhou. Upon arrival, we will check into our hotel for a great night's rest.
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 the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees.
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 Shanxiangjiu Pedestrian Street, a modern area infused with traditional Lingnan architectural elements.

Explore Yuexiu Park, the city's largest green space. Here, you can see a preserved section of Guangzhou’s ancient city wall, 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.
Visit Foshan, a historic city renowned as the "Cradle of Cantonese Culture," "City of Martial Arts," and a major ancestral homeland. It boasts millions of overseas Chinese descendants worldwide.

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

In the afternoon, 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.
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 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. 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.
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. We will enjoy a local meal cooked by villagers at a farm restaurant while learning about Kaiping culture and its history of overseas migration. We will also 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.
On the second day of our road trip, we will continue our journey exploring overseas Chinese heritage in the Taishan region.

We will meet with a fourth-generation descendant of a Chinese Cuban American immigrant and the founding curator of his grandpa'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.
And that's a wrap! After brunch, take a bus from Taishan back to Hong Kong. Option to select a bus that goes directly to Hong Kong International Airport.

Not returning to Hong Kong? Please inform us in advance.

Highlights

Track Down Your Ancestral Village

Take a road trip drive to historic overseas Chinese villages and attempt to locate your family's ancestral village and temple.

Admire Kaiping & Taishan's Diaolous

Climb UNESCO World Heritage diaolous, majestic watchtowers built by overseas Chinese. Tour a diaolou of a Chinese Cuban American family.

Visit Bruce Lee's Ancestral Home

Visit the well-preserved, ancestral home

of Bruce Lee's family in Guangzhou.

Bruce_Lee_ancestral_home,_Guangzhou_1.jpg

Grace & Yongjian will accompany you on entire experience (except to/from airport and during free time). Together, we are fluent in English, Mandarin, and Spanish.

Whenever necessary, we will have local guides and drivers accompanying us as well.
For all our experiences, we strive to pick accommodations that are clean and authentic.

Whenever possible, we choose to support small, local guesthouses run by people from the community.

Costs differ between single and double occupancy, please review the costs below
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be covered for the entire trip, unless stated otherwise in the itinerary.

If you have any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, etc.) or food allergies, please inform us in advance of the trip so we can make this trip enjoyable and safe for you.
In this virtual pre-departure orientation, we will cover essential apps (payment, maps, VPNs, eSIMs) and practical on the ground tips that will help you navigate China like a local.

It's also an opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers and ask us any questions!
For any sites mentioned in the itinerary that require an entrance ticket, the cost of the ticket for each traveler will be covered.

Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
All overland transportation, including high speed trains, buses, and rideshares.

Metro rides within cities are not covered.

Transportation during free time is not covered.

Any transportation to Hong Kong (flight or train) before the trip begins is not covered and any transportation after Day 10 is not covered.
To remember your trip, you will receive a From Roots to Bridges themed goodie bag! Inform us of your t-shirt size prior to the trip.

What Is Included

What Is Not Included

- International flights

- Travel Insurance (REQUIRED for every traveler)

- Chinese Tourist Visa (if required)

- Meals Not Included in the Itinerary

- Alcoholic drinks

- Personal Expenses (souvenirs, gifts, etc.)

- Room service, laundry, incidentals

- Activities not a part of the itinerary

- Hospital bills and related medical expenses
- Damaged or lost personal possessions

I'm Interested! What's Next?

Submit Deposit to Reserve Your Spot

Secure your spot via WeTravel. At the time of booking, you will submit a deposit to hold your spot. The deposit counts towards your total payment. If you cancel your spot, we are unable to refund your deposit. If the trip doesn't run due to a lack of participants, you will receive your deposit back.

Reserve My Spot!

Join Our Community

All travelers in your group will be onboarded to an online community platform so you can get to know your fellow travelers as you prepare for this group travel experience. On the platform, you will receive a full itinerary and you can ask questions and submit any special requests.

Submit Full Payment

Full payment will be requested 90 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 90 days of your departure, you will be asked to make the full payment immediately. Payments are made on WeTravel.

Attend Pre-Departure Orientation

30 days prior to departure, we will host a virtual pre-departure orientation where you will view the full detailed itinerary, healthy and safety measures, what to pack, what apps to download, and any other details that will help you feel prepared for the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you would like to join this experience but with a shorter length, email us at hello@fromrootstobridges.com and we will consider that for a future iteration of this experience if there are enough interested travelers to fill a group.

Otherwise, if you decide to join an experience late or leave early, whether planned or unplanned, you will still be responsible for the full cost of the experience.

To avoid unexpected expenses from early departures, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that includes trip interruption coverage
This group experience is designed for adults, 18 years and older.

If you have minors who would like to join an experience like this, we can arrange a private experience specifically for your family.

Please note that each minor requires at least one adult 21+ years old to accompany them.

Refer to our Private Experiences to learn more.
When booking this group travel experience in WeTravel, please respond to the question "Is there a place not mentioned in the itinerary that you'd like to go to?" and if there is enough interest in visiting that destination, we will consider adding it to the itinerary if possible. The cost of the experience may change.

Alternatively, we can host a Private Experience for you to your family's hometown.
Absolutely! While our journeys are designed for the overseas Chinese diaspora reconnecting with their heritage, we warmly welcome travelers with other meaningful ties to the region—whether through family, partners, friendships, or a deep interest in its culture, history, or language.

We simply ask that you join with respect for the diasporic voices at the heart of these experiences. Your curiosity and perspective can enrich the group’s dynamic, as long as you listen actively and engage thoughtfully.

Have a specific connection or reason for joining? We’d love to hear about it!
Yes, we generally advise our travelers coming to China to get a Chinese tourist visa in your country of residency. If you have confirmed that your trip to China can be done under the 10 or 30 day visa free policy, then you do not need to apply for a Chinese tourist visa.

Visa-Free Entry Policies

10-Day Visa-Free Transit: Travelers from many countries (e.g., US, UK, Canada) can stay up to 10 days in certain Chinese cities (like Beijing or Shanghai) if transiting to a third country (proof of onward ticket required).

30-Day Visa-Free Access: Citizens of 38 countries (e.g. France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan and Negara Brunei Darussalam) can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under mutual agreements.

Note: Policies may change—always verify with this official webpage before travel.

From Roots to Bridges will not accept responsibility if you are refused entry to China because you lack the correct visa documentation.
You should book your departure flight from your home country to Hong Kong International Airport and your return flight from Hong Kong as well.
Prior to entering China, you should download WeChat (communication and payments) and AliPay (payments and more).

If you need to use Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, or Google Apps during the trip, download a VPN.

Refer to our China Apps guide to see which other apps are required and recommended.
Prior to your trip to China, we recommend you to buy a 3HK E-SIM.

If you would prefer to get a physical SIM card, we will bring you to a physical store in China to get a SIM card.
Please refer to these CDC Guidelines for what vaccines to get prior to traveling to China.

Please refer to our Cancellation Policy Page
We understand that medical emergencies may cause you to not be able to attend this trip or cut the trip short.

Therefore, we require our travelers to buy travel insurance with trip cancellation before the trip begins to cover unforeseen cancellations.

What Our Travelers Say

Beverly 🇺🇸🇨🇳

Grace and Yongjian went above and beyond in this Homecoming Guangdong trip. From the initial calls where they got to know my background and goals for the trip, to creating a schedule that explored many places in the entire province. They were able to find my family's ancestral temple and people associated to my family that I did not know, incredibly and unexpectedly. From tourist sites to off the tourist path, we saw the range of offerings. I loved meeting local people so I can continue to practice Chinese and learn about everyday Chinese life. They are also amazing company to be around on this extensive trip. Thank you both for a life changing trip through China for the first time.

Aline 🇫🇷

Although I had already spent a month traveling in China before joining Grace and Yongjian, the road trip I took with them to Kaiping and Jiangmen was unforgettable. Traveling in China without speaking Mandarin can be challenging and exhausting. But with Grace and Yongjian, everything went smoothly as we explored remote villages, interacted with locals, and enjoyed authentic Cantonese dishes. Their deep knowledge of Chinese history and culture made the experience enriching, relaxing, and well-organized, yet flexible. Above all, Grace and Yongjian are incredibly passionate and enthusiastic about what they do. Their energy and love for sharing their culture made the whole experience so special.

Max & Nikki 🇩🇪

We had traveled to China independently before. This time, we wanted to delve deeper and get to know aspects of the country that remained closed to us as solo travelers without a Chinese driver's license and language skills. Grace and Yongjian organized a road trip to the less touristy province of Guizhou. They took us to remote villages, hidden viewpoints and neighborhood restaurants that we would never have reached on our own. The trip was characterized by their enthusiasm for the country, its people and food, as well as the very personal stories and experiences they shared. It was like a road trip with friends; except we didn't have to take care of anything ourselves.

Jurrien & Sandra 🇳🇱

Together with Grace and Yongjian, we travelled for almost 2 weeks through the province of Yunnan. Having never been to China, we felt a bit overwhelmed with the required preparations for this huge country. Even before we crossed the border from Vietnam to China, they prepared us in every possible way. From how to use Alipay and WeChat, to buying SIM Cards and setting up a VPN. Their knowledge about the area was astounding. Especially on the topics on (local) cuisine and culture, they introduced us to so much we didn't know. The itinerary chosen, suited well with our interests and the execution went very well.

Sebastien 🇪🇸

China wasn’t on my travel list until Yongjian and Grace's captivating passion and deep knowledge opened my eyes to its wonders. Their guidance was essential in securing a SIM card, managing payments, booking trains and ordering food. This allowed me to fully embrace Yunnan’s rich diversity, from vibrant markets and museums to stunning landscapes and historical sites. The region’s varied ethnic groups and incredible cuisine enriched every moment. This trip not only left me with precious memories and a new perspective on travel and China but also the gift of friendship with two remarkable people I now call friends.

Angela & Yang 🇩🇪

During our trip to China, especially in Fuzhou, Grace and Yongjian made our experience truly unforgettable. Although we have visited China several times before and speak the language (more or less), it can still be challenging to navigate the country, as everything changes so quickly. What made the journey even more special were the fascinating stories they shared about their own trips and the history and culture of the region. Touring with Grace and Yongjian was an absolute pleasure, and I would highly recommend their services to anyone, who want an effortless and memorable trip!

Matt 🇺🇸

I've lived in mainland China for over seven years and I was thrilled to join Yongjian and Grace for my first visit to Fujian Province. Together the three of us made stops at the historic district of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Xichan Temple, and the Overseas Chinese Museum. It was a pleasure touring Fuzhou with Yongjian and Grace, who were kind enough to introduce local delicacies and locate vegetarian restaurants to accommodate my dietary restrictions. I would wholeheartedly recommend booking a tour with Yongjian and Grace--you will not be disappointed!

Ted (Aug '24) 🇺🇸

I had a wonderful time traveling with Yongjian and Grace. They created a comprehensive itinerary with unique, hard-to-find experiences while remaining flexible and open throughout the trip. Their approach to travel planning reflects their commitment to cultural authenticity and meaningful engagement

with the communities they visit.

I would definitely go on another trip with them!

Our Travel Philosophy

We started traveling around China in 2023 with a desire to reconnect with our ancestral homeland. From then to now, we have traveled to half of China's provinces & regions. In the process, we realized that the beauty, history, and cultural diversity of China goes well beyond the typical path that tourists take (Beijing, Shanghai, etc). We want to show you the real China, from the cities to village in China's undiscovered provinces and regions. Whether or not you can speak Chinese, we want to help you navigate all the complexities that come with traveling around China and foster an environment that allows you to connect on a deeper level with Chinese culture, people, language, and food. Learn more from our YouTube videos!

Helpful Resources

How to Apply for a Chinese Visa
[for Americans & Canadians]

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