"You know this is my home, so I can say (to) you: welcome to Kuliang."

To American Elyn MacInnis, this mountain in Fuzhou, East China's Fujian province, is her family's home. In 2015, she traveled across the ocean to fulfill her father-in-law's lifelong wish to trace their roots.

Back in the 1920s, Kuliang was a vibrant summer haven for 3,000 expats working in China. Many, like MacInnis' family, raised their kids there and fell deeply in love with the country.

To keep this century-old bond alive, she founded the "Kuliang Friends", working with people in China to uncover 31 international families and reconnect over 90 descendants with their cherished past in Kuliang.

"It's a wonderful opportunity (to) get them to share their story," she said. "It's encouraging for the whole world."