The returned overseas Chinese in Yunnan (Part I)

Yunnan is China’s fifth biggest home province of overseas Chinese who played a key role in promoting Yunnan’s friendly relations with the outside world. Today, we share with you several overseas Chinese who kept everlasting love to their motherland.

Luo Kaihu

On November 12, 2020, the centenarian Luo Kaihu passed away in Kunming and he is a Nanqiao Jigong (drivers and mechanics who returned to China from Southeast Asia during the Anti-Japanese War).

Born in 1918 in Wenchang, south China’s Hainan province, Luo Kaihu went to Southeast Asia to make a living when he was young.

During China’s Anti-Japanese War, the Yunnan-Myanmar road served as the lifeline of material transport. Responding to the call by Mr. Chen Jiageng, the leader of overseas Chinese then, Luo Kaihu returned home to service his country and became a driver in 1939. With indiscriminate bombers overhead and winding mountain roads under the wheels, Luo Kaihu undertook his mission without hesitation.

After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, he worked and lived in Kunming till his twilight years. Luo seldom mentions the hardships or heroic deeds in the past. "Dad just wants us to be patriotic, diligent and hard-working, and he is more than happy to see China is embarking on a road of strength and prosperity," said Luo's sons and daughters.

Cun Maohong

Cun Maohong was born in an overseas-Chinese family. In 1982, he returned to Tengchong in southwest Yunnan and served as the fifth curator of Heshun Library.

The Heshun library has a long history and Cun has been committed to promoting local culture through the library. Cun also turned his courtyard into a homestay inn, which is now a window for international tourists to understand the Heshun culture.

When President Xi Jinping visited the Heshun old town in January 2020, Cun Maohong served as the tour guide. Cun said that in this experience allowed him to see the importance of inheriting traditional culture.

Guo Mingzhong

“As Chinese descendents, what is our shared spirit? No matter where we go, the rivers of Yangtze and Yellow are always on our minds”.

Above are lyrics of a song known as “The Song of Chinese Descendents”, which is written by Guo Mingzhong, the President of Yunnan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

As the president, Mr. Guo has been keen on organizing different events to celebrate the cultural legacies of returned overseas Chinese. Moreover, he offers helps to those in need.

For years, Mr. Guo’s wife has been involved the work of the federation. “I feel particularly proud when I see our country getting stronger and people’s life getting better every single day,” he says.

Li Zhongqiang

Li Zhongqiang, chairman of the Mangshi Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, is a De'ang man born in the 1980s.

Since working for the federation, Li has cared about the lives of overseas Chinese and helped the needy. Because of his hard work in facilitating ethnic unity, Li also won the title of "National Role Model in Ethnic Solidarity and Progress".

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, Li Zhongqiang said, the overseas Chinese and their relatives (returned or not) have helped their hometown in fighting against the epidemic and raised money to Mangshi's economic growth. Li thinks his job is rewarding.

Mi Saiwei

Born in a family related to overseas Chinese, Mi Saiwei got to know the hometown sentiment of overseas Chinese in his childhood.

In 2013, he was elected chairman of the Weishan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture. Since then, it has been his routine to visit the families of returned overseas Chinese, knowing about their living conditions and explore the distinct culture there.

Busy with his work, Mi Saiwei spent less time his family. His wife complained at first, but she gradually understood this, accompanied him during visits to the remote villages.

Thanks to Mi’s hard work over the years, Weishan County has received donations from overseas Chinese. Most of the money went to local education.

By Gateway reporters