Better known oversea by its Cantonese pronunciation as Toishan
More Chinese Diasporas originated from Taishan than any other areas. Most of them went to prosperous English speaking countries like the U.S., Britain, Canada, and Australia in the 19th and early 20th centuries as unskilled labors. By being thrifty and diligent, they were able to send home remittance.

At the Taishan Museum, which showcases the lives of these emigrants, we were shown contradictory messages from the Communist government. On one hand, it implies that all emigrants were cheated or kidnapped by evil imperialists into servitude and ended their lives in destitute. On the other hand, it displays wonderful foreign goods, such as cameras and sewing machines, brought home by returning emigrates. One indisputable fact is that this museum was established by donations from dozens of wealthy oversea Chinese with ancestral roots in Taishan.