The Hongdong Big Locust Tree Root-Seeking and Ancestor-Worshipping Park, located in Hongdong County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province, is the only sacred site in China dedicated to the quest for roots and ancestral worship. It is known as the "Homeland of the Chinese People, Holy Land of Ancestral Roots."
During the Ming Dynasty, from the third year of the Hongwu reign (1370) to the fifteenth year of the Yongle reign (1417), the government organized 18 large-scale official migrations beneath the Hongdong Big Locust Tree, involving millions of people who relocated to over 500 counties and cities in 18 provinces, including Beijing, Hebei, Henan, Shandong, Anhui, and Jiangsu. This led to the popular folk song: "Where are my ancestors? Under the Big Locust Tree in Hongdong, Shanxi. What was their former home called? Under the Big Locust Tree, the Stork's Nest."
The scenic area is divided into five major sections: "Immigration Historic Site," "Ancestral Worship Activities," "Folk Customs Tour," "Fen River Ecological Zone," and "Ancestor Culture Square," boasting over 60 cultural attractions:
Root Carving Gate: shaped like a locust root, symbolizing shared roots and ancestry.
Millennial Locust Root: Remnant of an ancient locust tree from the Song and Yuan dynasties, approximately a thousand years old.
Ancestral Hall: China's largest ancestral hall dedicated to hundreds of surnames, housing the surname tablets of 1,230 immigrant ancestors.
Immigration Reliefs: Vividly recreate historical scenes of immigration.
Live Performances: "Immigration at the Big Locust Tree" and "Su San Passing by the Big Locust Tree."
Level: National AAAAA-level Tourist Attraction.
Address: No. 002, Gongyuan Street, Guhuai North Road, Hongdong County, Linfen City.
Opening Hours: Peak Season (February 12th - January 17th): 7:30 AM - 6:30 PM. Off-season (January 18th - February 11th): 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
Admission: 80 yuan/person during peak season, 60 yuan/person during off-season; some groups enjoy free or discounted admission.