In Xiamen, a city famed for its artistic and refreshing vibe, Xiagang Subdistrict offers a more complex charm—it is both a place of deep historical narrative and a trendy destination for the youth. The Yanwu (military drill) Pool, where Zheng Chenggong once drilled his navy, has been transformed into a park for citizens; beside it, the sound of reading from Yanwu Primary School, along with the nearby Xiamen University founded by diaspora leader Tan Kah Kee, carries forward a heavy sense of patriotism. A few steps away, the Overseas Chinese Museum stands in silence, recounting a century of storms across the sea, while the aroma of Satay Noodles wafts as it has for decades. Past and present converge quietly in the daily life of Xiagang.
The alleys of Xiagang shaded by green trees, where stories of the years flow in tranquility.
This blend of old and new is not accidental, but the unique vitality of Xiagang as the core area of Xiamen’s diaspora culture. To truly understand it, one must trace back to the spiritual source deeply rooted here: from the patriotism of Zheng Chenggong, who used Xiamen as a base to reclaim Taiwan, to the moving stories of generations of Overseas Chinese who ventured far but remained tied to their roots. History is not a static exhibit; it flows through today’s streets, flavors, and daily life, shaping the unique character of Xiagang and Xiamen.
The Spiritual Source: The Patriotism of Zheng Chenggong
Among the historical imprints of Xiagang, the Yanwu Pool Heritage Site is a quiet yet monumental landmark. Today it is a popular park for citizens, but the shimmering water still reflects a magnificent chapter of national history.
The tranquil waters of Yanwu Pool once reflected the sails of Zheng Chenggong’s navy; today, they guard the sounds of reading by the poolside.
This site is closely linked to the great deeds of national hero Zheng Chenggong in drilling his navy and reclaiming Taiwan. Yanwu Pool witnessed Zheng’s unwavering determination to “clear the brambles and drive out the Dutch.” Using Xiamen as his base, he crossed the sea on an eastern expedition, expelled the Dutch colonizers, recovered the island of Taiwan, and protected the nation’s territorial integrity, writing a glorious page in Chinese history.
Behind the gate of Xiamen University, “Kah Kee Style” buildings stand quietly, continuing a legacy of craftsmanship and patriotism across the century.
Zheng Chenggong’s heroic feats injected a spiritual foundation of patriotism into Xiamen. This spirit continues by the Yanwu Pool—where Yanwu Primary School and the nearby Xiamen University, founded by the patriotic leader Tan Kah Kee, create a panoramic educational landscape from primary school to university, allowing patriotism to accompany generations as they grow.
An Immortal Monument: The Overseas Chinese Museum
If Zheng Chenggong’s Yanwu Pool planted a seed in Xiamen that looked toward the ocean while cherishing the homeland, then the Overseas Chinese Museum, standing proudly on Siming South Road, is the most beautiful fruit borne of that seed centuries later—an eternal monument to the spirit of the Overseas Chinese.
Inside the museum, ancient banyan trees spread their canopy, roots striking deep. The inscription “勿忘故国 (Never Forget the Homeland)” on a stone stands as an unfading imprint in the hearts of the diaspora.
This pristine white edifice, pioneered by the patriotic overseas leader Mr. Tan Kah Kee in 1956 and completed in 1959, is far more than just “China’s first museum funded and founded by Overseas Chinese.” In his Proposal for the Founding of the Overseas Chinese Museum, Tan explicitly stated that the museum should be located at “the port where Overseas Chinese enter and leave their homeland,” facing both the public and returning compatriots. This reflects his far-sighted vision of using the museum as a bridge connecting the hometown with the world, and the past with the future.
The Overseas Chinese Museum, initiated by Mr. Tan Kah Kee, stands as an immortal monument to the history and spirit of the diaspora.
Mr. Tan personally participated in the planning and curation of the exhibits. This dedication mirrors his founding of Xiamen University and Jimei Schools, constituting a grand educational ideal. The Overseas Chinese Museum was established specifically to record the history of the diaspora, showcase their contributions, and unite their sentiments.
Countless moving stories converge here: from the letters guarded for a lifetime by the first director, Chen Yongding, to the lifelong collection donated by overseas leader Tang Yu (Tan Tee Yew) after being shipped across the ocean. Today, as a National First-Class Museum, it houses not only over 8,000 cultural relics but also the spiritual core of “patriotism, love for hometown, openness, and inclusivity” cherished by generations of Overseas Chinese.
Xiamen’s maritime story, from Zheng Chenggong’s proactive pioneering spirit to the powerful reciprocity of Tan Kah Kee and countless others, forms a clear and magnificent historical lineage. The Overseas Chinese Museum is the brightest lighthouse on this path, forever witnessing and radiating the light of the Overseas Chinese spirit.
Living History: Imprints in the Alleys
The imprint of the diaspora is not carved solely on grand historical buildings; it is deeply dissolved into the daily hustle and bustle of Xiagang’s life and personal stories, becoming a warm and tangible life scene.
Walking through the alleys of Xiagang today, historical layers weave harmoniously with modern vitality. The scent of Satay sauce wafts from old shops—this delicacy, blending Southeast Asian spices with local flavors, is a gustatory memory brought back by early migrants, now a daily staple of the neighborhood. The aroma of street coffee or the sweet smell of baking from old-style western bakeries quietly narrates the traces of cultural exchange.
The stories of Overseas Chinese families might be hidden in a renovated old house: great-grandparents who worked hard in Nanyang, grandparents who sent money home to raise the family, parents who may have contributed to local construction, and today’s youth who perhaps choose to return to this vibrant old district, writing new chapters for their families and community in new ways.
It is these specific, subtle daily details—and the fragments of memory about distant lands and the hometown passed down in every family—that constitute the warmth and reality of Xiagang’s Overseas Chinese culture. It makes openness and inclusivity not just abstract words, but a living pulse one can live within.
From Xiagang to the World: A Profound Echo
In today’s Xiagang, old architecture gains new life. Trendy shops stand shoulder to shoulder with century-old stores; traditional folk customs breathe alongside contemporary art. All this is a vivid modern embodiment of the “openness and inclusivity” gene deeply rooted in its blood.
To understand the alleys of Xiagang is to understand the open-mindedness of Xiamen as a “Gate to the Mansion,” the fearless courage of those who ventured onto the Maritime Silk Road, and the eternal, deep emotional bond between the nostalgia of “returning to roots” and the choice of “taking root where one lands.” This bond is both a longing for the homeland and an embrace of the world.
At the end of the bustling old alleys lies Xiamen’s modern skyline, embracing the world.
In the new era of the “Belt and Road” and maritime strength, the Overseas Chinese culture and maritime civilization represented by Xiagang will burst with new vitality. It tells us that the footsteps toward the world have never stopped, while the hometown remains forever the starting point and the destination of the story.