Shi expeirnces Quanzhou's unique cultural heritage. [Photo provided to gofujian.com]

For Shi Yalin, Fujian has never been just a place on the map. She once lived and studied here at a young age. After moving to the Philippines with her family, "hometown" became something folded into the pages of the calendar: the red envelopes from elders during Spring Festival, the offerings on the ninth day of the first lunar month, the fragrance of zongzi (rice dumplings) during the Dragon Boat Festival, and the sound of Bo Bing during Mid-Autumn Festival.

In the Philippines, her school keeps Chinese culture alive through a variety of activities. Shi feels the rhythm of Chinese characters through calligraphy, learns to examine cultural phenomena critically through debate, and expresses her emotions and understanding of tradition through painting. But writing remains her greatest passion. She records her thoughts and experiences, the awe of climbing Tianyou Peak, the nostalgic taste of Four Fruits Soup. "Writing allows me to turn fleeting feelings into lasting memories. It also helps me reflect more deeply on culture and identity", she says.

Still, nothing can replace the experience of returning to Fujian by herself. There, culture is alive, in the sound of the Minnan dialect through the streets, in the incense drifting from the temple, and in the ancient crafts of artisans.

Although she had spent her early years in Quanzhou, she rarely had the chance to explore other cities in Fujian. This June, Shi Yalin joined the "Seeking Roots Journey" summer camp for the third time. This trip allowed her to truly encounter the diversity of Fuzhou, Xiamen, Zhangzhou, and Nanping. Her most unforgettable memory was in Mount Wuyi, drifting down the Jiuqu River on a bamboo raft, enjoying a landscape as beautiful as a painting.

Every day of the camp brought new discoveries. Shi tried to learn traditional puppets at the Jinjiang Puppet Theatre. "The puppets wore colourful costumes, and the most amazing part was the long, flowing ribbons." Though her own movements were clumsy, under the teacher's guidance, she managed to make her puppet move gracefully. Through these experiences, she felt the living pulse of Fujian's traditions, the artistry, patience, and devotion that have carried intangible cultural heritage through generations.

To Shi, the "Seeking Roots Journey" means far more than a visit to her ancestral home. "It's not just about 'going back to see,'" she says. "It's about truly walking into the heart of where we come from." Culture from books or the internet can never compare to the vividness of standing on an old street, tasting local delicacies, or watching traditional craftsmanship firsthand. The trip not only deepened her sense of belonging but also connected her with peers who share the same heritage and pride.

Looking ahead, Shi hopes to become a young cultural storyteller, to bring her authentic experiences back to the Philippines and share them with her friends. She wants to show how fascinating Chinese culture can be and make those memories of Fujian, once folded in the pages of the calendar, echo across the mountains and seas.