Shanxi's largest county by population, not crowded with tourists but known as the ancestral home of Chinese people worldwide

Shanxi's land and water bear the memories of the hometown for Chinese people everywhere. Today, people come here to trace their roots, as if they can still see the scenes of their ancestors leaving their homes and being forced to migrate, with families torn apart. Curious friends might ask, where exactly is this place in Shanxi? What unique landscapes does it have? With these questions and curiosity, let's talk today about Hongtong County in Shanxi. Hongtong County is the most populous county in Shanxi, covering an area of 1,494 square kilometers. It is named after the 'Hong Cliff' to the south of the city and the 'Ancient Cave' to the north. Although there are not many tourists visiting Hongtong County in Shanxi for sightseeing, taking children for walks, and taking photos for social media check-ins, this place is indeed the ancestral home of Chinese people around the world. 'Ask me where my ancestors are from, under the great locust tree in Hongtong, Shanxi. What's the name of the ancestral home? Under the locust tree, the old stork nest.' A folk song, an ancient and sacred locust tree, witnessed the great migration during the Ming Dynasty 600 years ago, becoming the bond between Hongtong and countless Chinese descendants, carrying the nostalgia of numerous people, and also precipitating the root complex of 'the ancestral home of Chinese people' in Hongtong. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that Hongtong County also hides China's first glazed pagoda!