I am of Chinese descent, yes, my ancestors came from China, and they have left China since my great-grandfather’s generation. My impression of my hometown, as described by the older generation, seems to contradict the portrayal often depicted by Western media—of it being undeveloped and impoverished, lacking in freedom of speech and human rights. This made me very curious, so I came to China with a heart to explore the truth. In the perception of many Westerners, China is often envisioned as still stuck in the Qing Dynasty, with people wearing long gowns and mandarin jackets, and governed by a…