Beside Huaiyuan Lake in the Autou Community of Jinhai Subdistrict, Xiang’an District, an ancient Western-style villa with red walls and majestic Roman columns stands quietly, gazing at the rising and falling tides. The vigorous calligraphy of the lintel inscription “我行我素” (Wo Xing Wo Su, I Follow My Way) strikes the eye, while the scattered bullet holes of varying depths on the mottled walls engrave a period of wartime history—this is “Wo Su Lu,” the former residence of the Singaporean diaspora leader Jiang Jifu.
Today, this overseas Chinese residence, having weathered over 80 years of storms, has been transformed into Xiang’an District’s first district-level overseas Chinese museum. Jiang Yongtai, president of the Autou Overseas Chinese Friendship Association, has curated its history through the thematic framework of “Riding the Waves, Plowing the Sea, Tracing the Source, and Leading the Tide.” This four-act saga connects the seafaring struggles and unwavering patriotism of the Xiang’an diaspora, creating a spiritual landmark where Maritime Silk Road culture and “Red” revolutionary genes intertwine and coexist.
Riding the Waves: Fires on an Ancient Ferry, a Home Loyal to the Land
Autou, a millennial fishing village nestled in the northeast of Xiamen Bay, has been a vital node of the Maritime Silk Road since the Song Dynasty, with over 700 years of documented diaspora history. In 1821 (the first year of the Daoguang Era), the first wooden junk laden with Minnan products set sail from the ancient Autou ferry for Singapore, marking the start of the Xiang’an diaspora’s magnificent journey to “Nanyang.” In 1934, Jiang Jifu, who went to Shanghai as a child to seek a living and later became a commercial legend in Southeast Asia, returned to his hometown of Autou with a heart of “simplicity and devotion to his roots” to build Wo Su Lu.
At that time, he worked alongside Mr. Tan Kah Kee to pioneer the Nanyang rubber industry and co-founded the Singapore Tung Ann District Guild. Though residing in a foreign land, he always kept the education and livelihood of his homeland in his heart.
This devotion turned into action as early as 1926, when Jiang founded Juemin Primary School in his hometown. He not only waived tuition for children from poor families but also bore all the school’s operating expenses, allowing the concept of “farming and studying to pass down the family legacy” to take root in the diaspora village. However, these peaceful years were shattered by war.
In 1937, after Japanese forces occupied Kinmen Island, they carried out carpet bombing of Autou. Over a hundred houses were turned to ash, and half of Juemin Primary School’s buildings were destroyed. Wo Su Lu was not spared; a bomb pierced from the second-floor ceiling through to the first-floor ground, leaving permanent scars on the walls. Yet, the bomb failed to destroy the resilient spirit of this diaspora home.
Following the victory of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in 1945, Juemin Primary School relocated to Wo Su Lu to resume classes, the sound of reading piercing through the gloom of war. During the Liberation War, Wo Su Lu served as a secret traffic station for the underground Communist Party in southwestern Fujian. Under the shroud of “White Terror,” the house was used as cover for singing revolutionary songs and transmitting intelligence. It successfully sheltered a large number of Xiamen University Communists and progressives during their transfer from Wutong Island to the rear areas of Tong’an. Here, the patriotic sincerity of the diaspora and the revolutionary faith of the Communists deeply merged, writing a brilliant chapter in the liberation of “Red Xiamen.”
Plowing the Sea: Continuing the Lineage, Preserving a Legacy
As time flowed, Wo Su Lu gradually aged under the erosion of more than 80 years of weather and changing eras. This residence, which had witnessed glory and hot-blooded sacrifice, suffered from weathered walls and decaying beams, eventually becoming a precarious building on the verge of collapse.
“How can we revitalize a historic diaspora house in the new era?” This became the most urgent question for Jiang Yongtai, president of the Autou Overseas Chinese Friendship Association.
Having worked in the protection of diaspora culture for many years, Jiang knew that Wo Su Lu was more than just a building; it was a “living fossil” of the Xiang’an diaspora spirit. It bore witness to the hardships of “venturing to Nanyang,” the passion of supporting the motherland, and the sincerity of building the hometown. It was an invaluable textbook for educating future generations.
Under the guidance of Xiang’an District’s policies for “beautiful village construction” and “protection and utilization of cultural heritage,” Jiang adhered to the philosophy of “protection first, vitalized utilization.” He believed that the preservation of diaspora relics was both a sign of respect for history and a way to unite the hearts of the diaspora.
In 2018, Jiang officially launched the initiative to restore Wo Su Lu. He spent months visiting diaspora descendants overseas, researching local historical materials, and coordinating with relevant government departments to detail the historical value of the house. His efforts received high priority and support from the Xiang’an District government, which included it as a key project in the Special Plan for the Protection and Utilization of Cultural Heritage in Xiang’an District, ensuring the successful implementation of the restoration.
The restoration strictly followed the principle of “restoring the old to look like the old.” The foundation, beams, and floors were reconstructed to a high standard capable of withstanding a magnitude-8 earthquake to ensure safety. Signature features such as the Roman columns and the veranda style were preserved in their original flavor. Even the bullet holes on the walls were carefully restored and retained, allowing the imprints of history to continue.
After the restoration, faced with commercial proposals like coffee shops or photo studios, Jiang firmly insisted on a theme of “Diaspora as the Soul, History as the Pulse.”
He believed that while Xiang’an is a famous hometown of overseas Chinese, it lacked a district-level platform to showcase this history, and the century-old accumulation of Wo Su Lu was the best vessel for this mission. He collaborated with various parties to draft a proposal to “build a district-level platform for displaying diaspora history, inheriting culture, and uniting diaspora strength.” This initiative was widely recognized. In 2025, Wo Su Lu was officially inaugurated as the “Xiang’an District Overseas Chinese Museum,” becoming a vital carrier for the deep integration of diaspora affairs and cultural construction.
Tracing the Source: Letters of Nostalgia, a Return to Support the Nation
Entering the museum, the “Tracing the Source: Devotion to Roots” exhibition is profoundly moving. Faded overseas Chinese letters are displayed neatly, their ink filled with the longing of travelers for their home. These letters and remittances are not only witnesses to the blood connection between the diaspora and their native land but also vivid interpretations of the sentiment: “No matter how far one goes, the roots are always in the hometown.”
Jiang Jifu’s life path is a vivid reflection of this “Tracing the Source” spirit. After building his wealth in Singapore, he remained devoted to his roots. Beyond founding Juemin Primary School, he funded the construction of piers, roads, bridges, and water conservancy projects, pouring his life savings into his hometown. Many others in Xiang’an followed suit. During the War of Resistance, diaspora leaders rallied to raise funds and purchase munitions, medicine, and supplies to support the national effort; the Singapore Tung Ann District Guild became a major hub for the overseas salvation movement. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, compatriots brought back advanced technology and management concepts to invest in factories, schools, and hospitals, driving Xiang’an’s transformation from a traditional diaspora village to a modern urban district. Since the reform and opening-up, overseas descendants have actively participated in the construction of the Xiamen Special Economic Zone, providing strong momentum for Xiang’an’s industrial upgrades and social improvement.
These touching stories are meticulously presented through text panels, physical artifacts, and multimedia. The collection includes Jiang Jifu’s office desk and chairs, old commodities from diaspora businesses, and traditional clothing worn by compatriots. Combined with light and shadow technology, these allow visitors to travel through time and truly feel the hardships of “venturing overseas” and the sincerity of “giving back home,” fostering a deep understanding of the theme: “The lineage of the diaspora is tied to the nation’s destiny; the heart of the diaspora turns toward the motherland.”
Leading the Tide: Passing the Torch, Writing a New Chapter
“Protecting diaspora culture is not about sticking to old ways; it is about making history live in the present to serve the future.” As the promoter and guardian of the museum, Jiang Yongtai has a clear vision for Wo Su Lu’s future.
In his view, “Leading the Tide” is not only about inheriting the pioneering spirit of the ancestors who bravely ventured to Nanyang, but also about demonstrating the responsibility of modern cultural inheritors to innovate and develop with the times.
Moving forward, the Xiang’an Overseas Chinese Museum will use diverse measures to activate the vitality of diaspora culture. First, it will delve deeper into “Red Diaspora History,” focusing on collecting materials related to the southwestern Fujian underground traffic station and documents of diaspora participation in the anti-Japanese salvation movement to make the wartime history of Wo Su Lu more vivid. Second, it will promote the digitalization of diaspora culture, scanning and archiving overseas Chinese letters and remittances, old photos, and manuscripts to establish a database for permanent preservation and online sharing. Additionally, the museum will develop themed study courses to attract more young people to hear these stories and internalize the patriotic spirit, letting it take root in their hearts.
As a vital carrier of nostalgia, Wo Su Lu has become a “nostalgia station” for overseas descendants seeking their roots. Since its opening, compatriots from Singapore, the USA, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and other countries have visited specifically to find their ancestors’ footprints in old photos, read the concerns of their forebears in letters, and feel the warmth of their native land in the familiar architecture.
One Singaporean compatriot remarked emotionally: “Seeing Wo Su Lu is like seeing the place where my ancestors lived; my nostalgia finally has a place to rest.”
This villa by the lake has transcended its meaning as a building. It is a historical witness to Maritime Silk Road trade, a living relic of the “Red” era, a core landmark of diaspora culture, and a bridge linking the diaspora to the Party in the new era. From the first merchant ship in the Daoguang Era to today’s museum, and from the hardships of the “Nanyang” journey to the modern reciprocity of the descendants, the “Leading the Tide” spirit of the Xiang’an diaspora continues from generation to generation.
The story of Wo Su Lu serves as a poignant testament: the spirit of the overseas Chinese has never faded; it grows ever more profound through the accumulation of history and ever more vibrant amidst the tides of the times. This sentiment for home and country that spans mountains and seas, along with this unswerving, pure-hearted devotion, represents not only the precious spiritual wealth of the Xiang’an diaspora but also a formidable driving force on the path to national rejuvenation. It guides us to remain true to our origins and forge ahead with fortitude, writing new chapters of loyalty to the motherland and the collective pursuit of dreams in the journey of this new era.