In 2025, traveling from Hong Kong to San Francisco takes about 12 hours, with several direct flights daily. However, in 1848, the journey across the Pacific was a grueling 60-day voyage by ship. Despite the hardship, many Chinese men were drawn to California by the promise of gold. The phrase “Let’s go gold digging in Gold Mountain” became common in Hong Kong, marking the start of a significant wave of migration. The discovery of gold in 1848, the demand for cheap labor in railway construction, and the abolition of slavery in 1863 encouraged Chinese workers to seek opportunities abroad. Most migrants came from Guangdong province, dressed in traditional Qing attire, carrying rattan suitcases filled with essentials.
The exhibition “Sojourning in Gold Mountain – Hong Kong and the Lives of Overseas Chinese in California” at the Hong Kong Museum of History presents over 170 exhibits, including 70% never displayed before. It explores the experiences of Chinese migrants from multiple perspectives, emphasizing that most journeyed voluntarily or as contracted laborers. Research shows that workers in California were able to change jobs every two to three years and signed contracts willingly. Between the mid-19th century and early 20th century, over 6.3 million Chinese migrants passed through Hong Kong on their way to foreign destinations. Many planned to return home, a sentiment captured in the phrase zhi ri dong xuan, meaning “returning to the East in the near future.” Some returned wealthy, while others came back only as remains. The Tung Wah Group of Hospitals played a crucial role in repatriating the deceased, as evidenced by a bone container from the early 20th century featured in the exhibition.
Hong Kong’s role as an important entrepôt is highlighted through its thriving businesses catering to migrants. Photo studios along Queen’s Road provided identity photos for travel documents, while loan businesses financed travel costs. By 1927, over 280 Gold Mountain firms facilitated trade with North America and Australia, exporting goods like granite, soy sauce, tea, and incense. The end of the Gold Rush in 1855 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 led to reduced labor demand and rising anti-Chinese sentiment. Employers cut wages, while media fueled hostility through racist depictions, contributing to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which banned Chinese laborers from immigrating to the U.S. for a decade.
The exhibition includes life-size reconstructions of significant locations such as the Angel Island Immigration Station and sites where Chinese migrant workers lived and worked, including the Chew Kee store in Fiddletown and the Kwan Ti Temple in Hanford. A standout piece is a golden dragon crafted in Hong Kong in 1931, originally sent to Marysville, California, for Chinese holiday celebrations. After 93 years, the dragon has returned home, symbolizing the enduring connection between Hong Kong and its overseas Chinese community.
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