Over 40 overseas Chinese from the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Japan visited Taicang, Jiangsu province from Aug 12-13, giving a thumbs up to the city's rapid development.

"My mother was born in Taicang and I am very excited to learn about the history and status of her hometown," said Wu Linkai, a 14-year-old Chinese-American when visiting Taicang Museum.

"It is a rare opportunity for my son to learn about Taicang in an all-around and systematic way," added Wu's mother.

"I have been living in the United Kingdom for 10 years but I come back every year to record the changes of my hometown," said Zhu Yingbo when taking photos at Taicang Port.

The annual tour is courtesy of the municipal federation of returned overseas Chinese and has been going on for three years.

"Annual tours may be the best way for overseas Chinese to stay updated to what is happening in their hometown and it is our pleasure to organize more activities like this," said a spokesperson for the federation of returned overseas Chinese of Taicang.