Seeking Roots: Young Overseas Chinese Explore History at Chongqing Stilwell Museum

7月3日，2024“中国寻根之旅”夏令营（重庆营）的60名华裔青少年走进重庆史迪威博物馆，聆听历史故事，开启寻根之旅。他们是来自印度尼西亚、俄罗斯、英国、美国、委内瑞拉的“侨二代”“侨三代”。

On July 3rd, 60 young overseas Chinese embarked on a journey into Chongqing Stilwell Museum as part of the 2024 "Seeking Roots in China" Summer Camp (Chongqing). Here, they delved into the historical stories of General Stilwell, marking the beginning of their quest to uncover their roots. Hailing from Indonesia, Russia, the U.K., U.S., and Venezuela, they represent the second and third generations of immigrants.
▲2024“中国寻根之旅”夏令营（重庆营）青少年走进重庆史迪威博物馆。/ The 2024 "Seeking Roots in China" Summer Camp (Chongqing) delegation entered Chongqing Stilwell Museum.

2024“中国寻根之旅”夏令营（重庆营）由中国侨联主办，重庆市侨联、共青团重庆市委、重庆师范大学承办。本次夏令营设有中华文化课、参观博物馆、探访智慧工厂等活动，让华裔青少年朋友们“听”传统故事，“读”经典古诗，“学”中华文化，“阅”巴山渝水，“品”重庆风味，“看”重庆发展。

The 2024 "Seeking Roots in China" Summer Camp (Chongqing) is hosted by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, organized by the Chongqing Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Chongqing Communist Youth League, and Chongqing Normal University. The camp features activities such as Chinese cultural classes, museum visits, and tours of smart factories, enabling young overseas Chinese to have a first-hand experience of traditional Chinese tales, classic Chinese poems, Chinese culture, landscapes of Chongqing, local flavors, as well as Chongqing's development.

重庆是第二次世界大战期间，世界反法西斯战争远东指挥中心，重庆史迪威博物馆展出的大量实物和图片记录了史迪威将军与中国人民共同抗击日本法西斯的历史。夏令营华裔青少年实地参观史迪威将军当年工作生活的地方，认真聆听史迪威将军和战时中美合作的故事，获益匪浅。来自中英文化教育交流咨询协会的领队老师表示，今天在博物馆了解的是孩子们在课堂上学不到的历史故事。

During World War II, Chongqing served as the Far East Command Center in the fight against fascism. The wealth of artifacts and photographs showcased at Chongqing Stilwell Museum documented General Stilwell's collaboration with the Chinese people in their fight against Japanese fascism. The campers visited the place where General Stilwell lived and worked during that era. They attentively listened to stories of General Stilwell and the wartime cooperation between China and the United States, gaining invaluable insights. The team leader from the Chinese-British Cultural Education Exchange Association noted that today, the campers learned historical stories that children cannot typically learn in classrooms.

2.“我要学好中文”/ "I Want to Improve My Chinese"

参加本次活动的青少年多是“侨二代”“侨三代”，对祖（籍）国的情结主要来自家人的传承。一位来自美国的营员仔细阅读展览图片的中英文解说后，她说：“我只有在家里和妈妈是讲中文的，在外面都是讲英文。我能听得懂中文，可是汉字就认不全了。我要学好中文。”另外一位来自委内瑞拉的营员和大家分享，他除了会讲普通话外，还可以讲粤语，以及西班牙语、英语。他的语言才能得到周围人的称赞，称其可以“媲美”史迪威将军，因为他们刚刚才从博物馆史迪威将军生平图片展上了解到，史迪威将军精通多种语言，被称为“语言学家”。

Many of the youth participating in this event are second or third-generation immigrants, whose connection to their ancestral homeland is primarily through family heritage. A camper from the U.S. carefully studied the exhibition photos and their Chinese and English explanations. She said, "I only speak Chinese at home with my mom; outside, it's all English. I can understand Chinese, but I don't recognize all the characters. I want to Improve my Chinese well." Another camper from Venezuela shared that besides Mandarin, he also speaks Cantonese, Spanish, and English. His language skills garnered praise from those around him, likening him to General Stilwell, who they had just learned from the museum exhibition was proficient in multiple languages and was known as a "polyglot".

▲华裔青少年在史迪威将军学习的卡片上寻找学习中文的“秘诀”。/ Young overseas Chinese searched for "secrets" to learning Chinese on flashcards used by General Stilwell.
 

3.我们共同的愿望/ Our Shared Aspirations

参观史迪威将军旧居，观看史迪威将军生平图片展，华裔青少年在这里上了一堂生动的历史课。参观结束后，一位营员在博物馆留言簿写下“我们的愿望是：世界和平！”

Visiting General Stilwell's former residence and viewing the exhibition of his life, the young overseas Chinese had a lively history lesson. After the visit, one camper wrote in the museum's guestbook, "Our wish is: World Peace!"

▲华裔少年用中文写下留言。/ Young overseas Chinese wrote a message in Chinese.
 

海外华裔青少年“中国寻根之旅”夏令营旨在通过邀请海外华裔青少年回国参访，实地感受新时代中国取得的伟大成就，引导他们传承中华优秀传统文化，增进对祖（籍）国的了解和认同，厚植“根、魂、梦”，汇聚以中国式现代化推进强国建设、民族复兴伟业的侨界力量。

The "Seeking Roots in China" Summer Camp aims to invite young overseas Chinese to visit China and experience firsthand the great achievements of contemporary China. This initiative guides them in inheriting excellent traditional Chinese culture, enhancing their understanding and identification with their ancestral homeland, and nurturing their roots, soul, and dreams. It aims to unite the strength of the overseas Chinese community towards advancing China's modernization and contributing to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.