Dreaming back to Xiguan, she said that the most beautiful thing is her hometown

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The most beautiful place in the world is my hometown

“People in Guangzhou call going out for fun ‘Pu’. When I was young, I loved going to the music cafe ‘Pu’.”Living abroad for nearly 20 years Huang Jingjing, head of the Johannesburg China Star Art Troupe in South Africa, still misses the golden years of Cantonese pop music in the 1980s and 1990s. At that time, she often sang in various music cafes in Guangzhou, and became a contracted singer on Guangdong TV Station. She was a frequent guest on many variety shows in Guangdong and Hong Kong.

△Huang Jingjing took a selfie with her father on the streets of Guangzhou.

In 2006, Huang Jingjing decided to bid farewell to the music scene and settled in Johannesburg, South Africa. “I had been singing for more than 20 years and wanted to change my lifestyle. I happened to travel to South Africa with my friends and was attracted by the beautiful scenery here. By chance, I stayed.”

In order to relieve her homesickness, Huang Jingjing goes to Johannesburg\’s Chinatown every once in a while to listen to the local accent, taste the local flavor, and talk about the nostalgia. “The overseas Chinese in Johannesburg will help each other when they encounter difficulties. I just want to use my expertise in program planning, singing, and stage performances to do something for the local overseas Chinese community.”

△The Chinese Archway in Chinatown, Johannesburg, South Africa.

In August 2012, Huang Jingjing became the chief planner of the Miss Chinese African Beauty Pageant. In 2013, she worked with several overseas Chinese organizations , launched the first \”Water Cube Cup\” Overseas Chinese Youth Chinese Song Competition South Africa Division \”This event has been held for 12 consecutive years. In the past few years, all those who signed up to participate were Chinese, and later young friends from other ethnic groups gradually joined in. ”

Hoping that the “second generation” and “third generation” living overseas can have memories of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Spring Festival since childhood, Huang Jingjing teamed up with friends from the overseas Chinese and art circles in South Africa to set up an exhibition in Johannesburg. South Africa China Culture and Art Exchange Association,planned and held the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala performances, Spring Festival gala performances and other cultural activities

In 2015, the South African Chinese Culture and Art Exchange Association was awarded the \”Cultural China Huaxing Art Troupe\”; in the same year, Huang Jingjing was awarded the fourth prize by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and other institutions. \”Light of China – Person of the Year for Spreading Chinese Culture\” Award

△Huang Jingjing walks in the alleys of Xiguan, Guangzhou.

\”My grandma loved me very much when I was a child. I remember she said to me, ‘You won’t have much potential when you grow up, you just love singing, dancing, and dressing up.’ She was really right. ”Looking back on the past, Huang Jingjing smiled and said, “Music is a love that I can’t let go of. Although I took a break for a few years when I first arrived in South Africa, I picked it up again and gained unexpected benefits. \”She said that promoting Chinese culture to \”go overseas\” has allowed her to find a new direction in life. \”I will always stick to this.\”

Nostalgia spans mountains and seas, and the love of hometown is always there.

As her parents grow older, Huang Jingjing feels even more homesick. This summer, she took off from Johannesburg and went there. Transferred in Hong Kong and returned to Guangzhou after a long absence.

Despite the fatigue of the journey, the first thing Huang Jingjing did after returning home was to drink tea with her parents, who were over 80 years old.

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△After putting down her luggage, Huang Jingjing took her parents to drink tea together.

Xiguan, this old city where tradition and modernity collide, history and reality are intertwined, carries Huang Jingjing Memories of childhood: wading doors, Manchurian windows, butterfly windows, Wooden carvings and floral decorations… Although it has been many years, she still remembers Xiguan House very well.

“When I was a child, after finishing my homework, I liked to lean against the window and look out the window. The small bridges, flowing water, blue sky and white clouds will give rise to many strange thoughts in my heart. ”“In South Africa, I often dream about Xiguan House. This is an ancient \’security door\’. Every door has a \’lock tongue\’ like this. My grandparents would close the door at night and then lock it inside the house…\”

△In Guangzhou In Yongqingfang, Liwan, Huang Jingjing started talking about her childhood life.

“I used to wish I could fly far away to see the outside world; now after seeing many places, I still feel that my hometown is the best. good. ”This is not only a portrayal of her journey abroad for many years, but also conveys her longing for her homeland.

Hometown has always been the softest place in her heart.

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Editor\’s Note

People are relatives from hometown, and Guangdong is the name of hometown.

This summer, four overseas Chinese from Guangdong who participated in the video solicitation campaign of Nanfang Daily, Nanfang+ and GDToday \”Take a Ticket to Guangdong\” flew to their hometown from overseas and fulfilled their dream of returning home.

They have different professions and experiences. Some are trendy people who have been in the business world for many years in Thailand, some are doctors who promote the art of Qihuang in Fiji, and some are in Germany. There are painters who protect the art of ink painting in the country, and there are singers who build bridges of friendship in South Africa. What do they care about most about returning home across mountains and seas?

From now on, we will launch \”Guangdong\”. \”It\’s the Name of My Hometown\” series of micro-documentaries, using the camera to tell the stories of four foreigners returning home. Please pay attention.

Text/script: Nanfang+Reporter Gong Chunhui

Photography: Nanfang+ reporter Zhang Guanjun

Editing: Nanfang+ reporter Jin Di

Poster: Pan Jie and Tan Wei

Operation: Huang Xinying, Chen Longyan, Feng Huiting, Jiang Chang

English reviewer: Liu Lingzhi, Wei Shen, Huang Qiniobium

Coordinator: Lu Yi, Xie Miao Feng, Zeng Qiang Qi Lei Ouyang Yan

Planner: Wang Xiyong, Cao Si, Zhao Yang, Wang Haijun

[Author] Gong Chunhui; Zhang Guanjun; Jin Dy; Pan Jie; Tan Wei

Yue Yang Ji