Zhutouyuan and Hengmei villages, near Cuiheng, Zhongshan

[kate]

I would be interested to hear from anyone, particularly Australians, whose ancestors came from the following two villages, which are near Cuiheng 翠亨 in Zhongshan:

Zhutouyuan (Chuk To In) -- 竹頭園
Hengmei (Hang Me) -- 亨美

I am researching the history of an Australian boy, Richard Lee, who went to live in China in 1903. He was the white step-son of a Sydney-based gardener and storekeeper, thingy Lee. From the records I have, I believe that he lived in Zhutouyuan. He also visited an Australian woman named Mrs Gee Chong who was living in Hengmei.

Richard spent a number of years in the village, then four years at school at the Diocesan Boys School in Hong Kong.

On returning to Australia he was said to be able to speak:

Cantonese
Hah-ha
Ni-chee

I am guessing that 'Hah-ha' may have been Hakka, but I welcome any thoughts about this or what language 'Ni-chee' might be.

Thanks,
Kate

[helen]

Can anyone help Kate - she's in China at the moment.

chineseaustralia.org/research-trip-update-ii/

[douglaslam]

Helen,If only the thread had appeared earlier, I could make a personal visit to those places. Kate knows China well and resourceful, I am sure something would turn up.

Douglas

[helen]

Happy New Year Douglaslam . I hope you weren't too busy over the holidays. My 2 boys have gone to Shanghai to visit their sister. They flew to Harbin for the weekend - looking forward to lots of photos when they get back. Gmail is blocked, so all I have seen is a photo of the 3 of them on facebook, and the tail of the plan landing over a snowy white Harbin airport.

[douglaslam]

Helen, I promised myself to experience the cold climes of the three far eastern provinces of China in mid-winter, but never got around to it. Harbin is one of the places I want to see. It is certainly a lot less expensive than St. Moritz or Tyrol in Europe.

How did your sons get on to Facebook? It is blocked in China as well.

[helen]

facebook is blocked too.

Here's Kate's blog


chl.anu.edu.au/publications/csds/csds2013/csds2013_04.pdf

and twitter

twitter.com/baibi

[douglaslam]

Helen, I was reading Kate's blog when I noticed she has engaged Shi Cheng to help her on her latest project in Jiangmen. I am sure he can do a good job. He is experienced and confident.

Jiangmen is very close to us. When I went to Liang Qichao's 梁啟超 ancestral home in 2013, we went via Jiangmen, but did not stop to explore the township and see the museum. Opportunity missed.

I remember disembarking in Jiangmen at about 4 or 5 in the morning, from a flat bottom barge from Canton in the '70s, it was pitch black. I could not even see a tricycle silently creeping up to me. Now, it is transformed to a dazzling city of bright lights.