Abstract
In China, areas where a large group of local people emigrate abroad are called Qiaoxiang, which means the hometown of overseas Chinese. With the implementation of China’s economic reform and open-door policy, many traditional hometowns of overseas Chinese have also witnessed great changes and transformation. This research, based on detailed fieldwork, aims to clarify the changing characteristics of Qingtian County in Zhejiang Province. As a traditional hometown of overseas Chinese, this place has seen increasing number of local people emigrating abroad over the years. The results of the research can be concluded as follows. Located in a mountainous area, Qiantian was a poor county with few and insufficient agricultural land. At the end of Qing Dynasty, some people began to sell decorations made of Qingtian Stone, a special product of this area, to Europe via a land route passing Siberia. However, during the period of Guangxu (1875-1908) in Qing Dynasty, the number of emigrants to Japan increased and exceeded that to Europe. With the implementation of reform and open-door policy initiated in 1978, the number of emigrants abroad has increased significantly; Qingtian County is no exception. European countries such as Spain and Italy have become major destinations. As a result, economy has developed rapidly in Qingtian with the remittance, donation and investment from these new emigrants. Infrastructure and building construction has been booming, churches and clinics are built even in rural areas. More and more young people leave their home villages and emigrate abroad. Influence of returnees from European countries can be observed by the landscape of this area, especially in the central business district. Many language schools for Spanish or Italian, as well as labor mediation agencies for immigration procedures were set up. In addition, restaurants of western food and wine shops have flourished the consumption of wine and coffee has become quite popular among the urban residents. The trend and changes in the economic instability and immigration regulations in European countries will certainly and greatly influence the future of hometowns of overseas Chinese as Qingtian.
