From faded letters to WeChat: How some Teochew families in Southeast Asia are finding long-lost relatives
Singaporean and Malaysian families of Teochew descent are increasingly using digital tools like WeChat to reconnect with long-lost relatives in China. This trend has been fueled by the popularity of the Chinese film 'Dear You', which highlights the historical migration of Teochew people.
Why it matters
It illustrates how modern technology and pop culture are bridging historical gaps caused by migration and war for diaspora communities.
Following the success of Chinese box office hit Dear You, more Singaporeans and Malaysians of Teochew descent are turning to a volunteer network in China to trace their roots and reconnect with long-lost relatives.
A Chaoshan Homeland volunteer on the ground. (Photo: CNA/Hu Chushi)
Melody Chan 06 Aug 2026 06:00AM (Updated: 06 Aug 2026 09:08AM) Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a new cards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST CHAOSHAN, GUANGDONG: Decades ago, Chinese families separated by migration and war relied on handwritten letters that would take weeks, or even months to arrive.
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