ToisanTrip

[bb]

We are considering a trip to Toisan to visit ancestral villages. We are a group of Chinese who grew up in Buffalo, NY. Doing some research (this forum has been a tremendous help) we have identified several villages but would like to know the location.

南安 - Nam On
龍安 - Lung On
龍和 - Lung Wo

All are in the Nam Hang district near Toisan.

In addition, in preparing for a possible trip in the Fall of 2010. We would like any suggestions on length of stay and things to do in the Toisan area. Our thinking is to combine the visit to Toisan within a 10 day tour China. Most of us have never been to China.

Finally, any suggestions on how we can best prepare for the trip would be helpful. We have done some research from this end but at this point do not know of any relatives or contacts on the China end. It sounds like Henry's nephew could be a good option.

P.S. There was once a small but vibrant Chinese community in Buffalo. My father and grandfather were a part of this colony. I am hoping we might find others through this forum with that Buffalo connection.

bb

[Ah Gin]

BB,

It's wise of you and your group to plan ahead. I am sure Henry can help, as indeed many experienced hands of this Forum. Let them speak for themselves.

Meanwhile, I did a quick search on the Village DB,just for fun. The three villages you mentioned: The are 38 Nam On, 46 Lung On, 2 Lung Wo on the list. I did not make any distinction between Toisan, Hoiping etc. as over the years, some boundry changes have regrouped the villages. Henry will no doubt pin point the places in time less than I can make a cup of Oolong tea.

As you don't have any relatives in the areas you are visiting, think it will be a good idea to have a guide with you. Few of us on this Forum are lucky, as we have contacts and relatives "back home", so we feel much more confident in moving around. In fact on the times I visited my ancestral village, I felt that I was "going home" and in some way, I was, as I still have houses to go to -- houses belonging to my departed father, uncle, cousins etc.

Good luck with your trip. You will enjoy it. Who knows, next Fall, I might be heading home as well. Or our Caln may be running another gathering, but in Hoiping (Kaiping)

Regards, Ah Gin

[tyuti1668]

ALL villages above are "黃" clan
C-C-C db 台山>Area 1>石化鄉>南坑鄉

MAP

[Henry]

Hi BB,

Welcome to the Forum !

I see Ah Gin and tyuti1668 have provided you with additional information. Sorry for my late reply, my wife and I just returned from New York City late last night from my mom's 89th year old birthday party.

I checked the other Chinese websites and other usual sources, however, I could not find these specific villages.

I believe that a reliable way to determine the location is to have my Taishan nephew go to the Nam Hang area and personally check their locations.

Please email me directly on "[e-mail]" if you would like to follow up.


Henry

[bb]

Thanks for the quick responses so far. They are really helpful. tyub1668's map confirms the general location that the "elder statesman" of our group remembers as he grew up there. I don't speak or read Chinese but I am sure our elder statesman will get much more from the map. I took the village from the c-c-c database; however, family members have also referred to our village as "mountain pond village" and "3 peace village." I will definitely follow up with Henry. Who knows we may still have a cousin or 2 in the area.

Thank you all for your help so far. I would still like advise on planning the best trip we can.