Dahuaishu Ancestor Memorial Garden in Hongtong county, Shanxi province [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Hongtong Dahuaishu Ancestor Memorial Garden in Hongtong county, Shanxi province, is a holy place for overseas Chinese. Thousands of overseas Chinese return from afar to pay homage and show their respects to their ancestors each year.

The Hongtong Dahuaishu, or the Big Locust Tree, is where many Chinese people both in and outside the country believe their ancestors started their long trek of immigration during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

When Tomb Sweeping Day – a day when Chinese people pay tribute to their ancestors and remember their deceased family members – falls each year, a huge number of people from across China and overseas visit Hongtong Dahuaishu Ancestor Memorial Garden built around the holy tree, a phenomenon recognized by the authorities as a national intangible cultural heritage.

The scenic area was rated a national 5A tourist attraction in 2018.