In front of his ancestral house, Xiao Jianda (second from right) just found his hometown had greatly changed. [Photo by Yu Zhaoyu]

Parents and elder sister of Chinese-Peruvian football player Roberto Siucho (aka Xiao Chu) paid a root-seeking trip to Nanwen Community of Dachong Town, Zhongshan on July 7. The Xiao's family who traveled across oceans has finally found its "roots" after more than half a century.

Roberto Siucho, 22-year-old, joined Guangzhou Evergrande football club on January 31 and then played on loan at Shanghai Shenxin. After cross-checking, Dachong, Zhongshan was confirmed to be the ancestral home of the new Peruvian football star.

In the 1930s and 1940s, Xiao Richu went abroad to make a living. His son Xiao Jianda now practices medical treatment in Peru, and his grandson Roberto Siucho has returned to his homeland and joined Guangzhou Evergrande.

Xiao Yaonan, famous Peruvian overseas Chinese, and his son ALF were on the same trip with the Xiao's family. They attended the root-seeking ceremony prepared by the fellow villagers at the Xiao's ancestral hall.

They also visited their 120-year-old ancestral house located on Jiwei Street. Mottled walls, scattered stones and messy branches there witnessed the vicissitudes of the Xiao's family.

"We love Zhongshan, and we feel the passion of the fellow villagers," said Xiao Jianda, adding that this would be his first but not the last visit to his hometown.

Since Roberto Siucho is currently in Shanghai, he did not return home this time. He will visit Zhongshan along with his family after the season concludes.