Zhao Meixin visits Jiangmen and is proud of her parents’ hometown (photo)

Zhao Meixin visits Jiangmen and is proud of her parents’ hometown (photo) The first Chinese-American congresswoman in the United States, Meixin Zhao, led the congressional delegation as the chairperson of the Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus in the U.S. Congress...

The first Chinese-American congresswoman in the United States, Meixin Chao, as the chairperson of the Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus in the U.S. Congress, led a congressional delegation to visit China for 8 days. After visiting Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong and other places. After an absence of 21 years, on September 3, he returned to his hometown of Xinhui, Jiangmen, Guangdong, to visit relatives and pay a private visit. He also visited his parents’ hometown of Jiangmen City and the leaders of Xinhui District. Kuang Renshan, member of the Standing Committee of the Jiangmen Municipal Party Committee, Vice Mayor Chen Hang, and Director Liang Fuming of the Jiangmen Overseas Chinese Bureau met with Zhao Meixin and her delegation.

Zhao Meixin returned to her hometown. Zhao Meixin (5th from left) took a group photo with Jiangmen City Vice Mayor Chen Hang, Deputy Secretary-General Liang Qihua, Director of the Municipal Overseas Chinese Bureau Liang Fuming, etc. Zhao Meixin was originally from Gujing, Xinhui, and returned to her hometown in 1990 when she was the mayor of Monterey Park. This visit to Jiangmen was mainly to visit relatives in Xinhui Gujing, Shadui and other places where his ancestral home is. He also visited the Overseas Chinese Museum accompanied by Vice Mayor Chen Hang. She pointed out that the exhibition reflected the arduous journey, suffering and exploitation of the overseas Chinese at various stages of the development of the United States. Zhao Meixin said that this visit has given her more and more sufficient resources, and in the future she will urge the U.S. Congress to issue a public apology for the Chinese Exclusion Act.

In the afternoon, Zhao Meixin drove to Wufuli, Xialu Township, Xinhui Gujing Town, and visited the Zhao family's ancestral house and Zhao's ancestral hall. When the motorcade arrived at the archway of Wufuli Village, the villagers and the Zhao family members beat gongs and drums and lit firecrackers to welcome Zhao Meixin's arrival. The old people in the village clapped their hands and said happily: "Welcome home!"

was warmly welcomed by the villagers

In Zhao's ancestral house, Zhao Meixin bowed three times to offer incense to her ancestors in accordance with the custom. In the ancestral house, there is a campaign photo of Zhao Meixin when she was running for the U.S. House of Representatives hung up by the Zhao clan. Seeing these photos, Zhao Meixin was very happy and said "ok" repeatedly. In the ancestral house, the village chief surnamed Zhao of Wufuli Village took out the bowl used by Zhao Meixin's family and gave the bowl to Zhao Meixin.

Zhao Meixin in Xialu Township, Gujing, Xinhui On the evening of September 3, before the dinner held in her honor, the folks from Gujing sent an inscription book and asked her to write a few words as a souvenir. She, who could not write Chinese characters, worked hard, like a dedicated primary school student, and left the words "The roots of the ancient trees are deep and the town of Jingshui is sweet" to the elders in her hometown to express her feelings.

During the dinner, she stood up and thanked everyone affectionately. Zhao Meixin said that she was very impressed by her return to Jiangmen this time. "Jiangmen has undergone amazing changes in the past 20 years. The roads are well built and there is advanced urban rail. I am proud of my parents' hometown. I really feel like going home here. I will come back more in the future if I have the opportunity." (AACYF News)