For generations, Chinese emigrants who left home to seek their fortunes abroad regarded the ultimate symbol of success not as a bank account, but as a house—a large one built on ancestral soil. In the Chaoshan region of eastern Guangdong, this dream was known as qi da cuo, meaning "build a great mansion." The Former Residence of Chen Cihong in Shantou is perhaps the finest example of this dream realized.

The Chaoshan region comprises the cities of Chaozhou, Jieyang, and Shantou, making it the second-largest metropolitan area in Guangdong, after the Pearl River Delta. It is also historically significant as the ancestral home of many overseas Chinese descendants in countries and regions such as Thailand, Malaysia, and the United States.

To explore the unique culture of the Chaoshan region, visitors from Hong Kong and Macao followed the footsteps of the film *Dear You*, a popular Teochew-language movie, touring the mansion and its filming locations. Some visitors tried on traditional qipao dresses and strolled through its corridors, tracing a century of family memories and overseas Chinese heritage.

The residence is one of the largest and best-preserved overseas Chinese mansions. Built by the family of Chen Cihong, one of the most famous and wealthiest merchants in the Chaoshan region, it took nearly half a century to complete. The mansion covers 25,400 square meters (approximately three and a half football fields) and contains 506 rooms. 

With the overseas background of its owner, the residence integrates Chinese and Western architectural styles. Its tiles were imported from more than 30 countries, including the UK, Italy, and others, featuring over 130 varieties. Another distinctive feature is its "four-horse-drawn chariot" layout, a traditional design from the Chaoshan region.

Reporter | Zhou Jiyin, Ding Hefei, Wang Yaxin

Video | Luo Yuan, Zhang Qida

Editor | Yin Juewen

Proofreader | Chen Xuede