Li Xinglin, a Dutch-Chinese youth with ancestral roots in Zhongshan, led eight Dutch-Chinese teenagers to Zhongshan this summer. They kneaded dough to make almond cakes at Ju Xiang Yuan, dressed in Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) to travel back in time at Zhongshan Movie Town, and sought their roots in Chongkou Village.

Though their Chinese is still limited, the teenagers followed her in discovering the flavors, history and everyday life of Zhongshan. Actually, Li's "root-seeking lessons" began long before this trip — every evening, back in her childhood, her grandmother in Zhongshan connected with her through video calls. Today, she has taken up the "baton", passing on this bond with the homeland across three generations and sharing its stories with more young listeners.