Same lineages

Interestingly, as highlighted by Cologna, the majority of Chinese residents in Prato can be traced back to ancestral lineages originating from the vicinity of Wenzhou, a southeastern region in Zhejiang province.

Yan Xiaohai, an officer from the local Overseas Chinese Bureau in Qingtian, a small town near Wenzhou, stated that Zhejiang province has witnessed four major waves of migration to Europe. And he said migration from Qingtian played a crucial role in Chinese migration to Europe.

"It began in the late 19th century when opportunities arose through exhibitions," he explained. "In 1911, a devastating flood struck the county, prompting people to seek new opportunities elsewhere, leading to an increase in migration to Europe."

According to Yan, the first major wave of migration occurred from 1925 to 1930, ending with the onset of the worldwide economic crisis of that time. World War II further slowed migration for about 20 years. The second significant wave began in the 1980s, after the implementation of the China's reform and opening-up policy.

Yan estimates that the population of Qingtian is now around half a million, with approximately 300,000 individuals officially having been recorded as emigrating to Europe, which accounts for nearly 60 percent of the population.

"People from Qingtian were among the first Chinese immigrants to Europe, primarily due to the limited resources and opportunities in their small county," Yan said. "The lack of natural resources and limited space for agricultural work pushed the rural population, including the farmers, to seek better prospects abroad."