In WildChina’s ten-year history, we have been witness to many amazing and life-changing experiences on our journeys. Recently, one of these incredible stories was uncovered in a conversation with Pan Wei and Christine, two members of our Corporate Services and Special Projects team.

A few years ago, they received a request from an American Chinese family to visit Zhuhai, in Guangdong province – their ancestral Chinese village – in which one of the parents’ grandfathers had lived. After a number of emails and calls, we were able to arrange a visit for the family.

Not only did the family successfully pay a visit to the area, but they were also warmly greeted by local villagers. In fact, the village held a celebration for the family in their ancient temple. All of the villagers brought local dishes for a banquet-style meal, including a chicken that was cooked on the spot.

The family was incredibly moved by their personal experiences with the villagers, especially since one of the older community members remembered the family’s relative vividly.

For us, the fact that we could reconnect a family with their roots and cultural heritage was an incredible accomplishment. Their experiences exemplified how we can enable guests to experience China differently with a personal connection to the people and places that we visit.