For Kong Jing Lam, Ooi Yi Ling, and Lee Xin—three Malaysian master’s students at Fudan University’s School of Journalism—their time studying in China transcends academics. It is a journey of reconnecting with their ancestral roots, recognizing real-world social needs, and transforming a deeply personal family story into an award-winning innovation.
As the champion team of Fudan’s 1st Innovation & Entrepreneurship Competition for International Students, the team composed of four Malaysian students and two Chinese students developed RootLink, an AI-powered platform that helps overseas Chinese trace their family origins. Through months of dedication and collaboration, the project has become their most unforgettable “China moment.”
All members of RootLink (left to right: Ooi Yi Ling, Joo Jye Kee, Wu Yixuan, Kong Jing Lam, Lee Xin, Huang Wenyue)
From a Grandmother’s Wish to an Innovative Solution
The idea for RootLink stemmed from a personal experience. Last year, during Qingming (Tomb Sweeping Day), Kong Jing Lam’s grandmother expressed a deep wish to trace their ancestral roots—yet she could only offer a vague surname and a blurry place name. Kong Jing Lam searched online but found no effective help. That sense of powerlessness planted the seed for RootLink: a professional, intelligent, and user-friendly platform designed specifically to help overseas Chinese reconnect with their family origins.
Kong Jing Lam’s big family
“People should never forget their roots.” Yi Ling was deeply touched by these words from one of the interviewees who is a Chinese language teacher back in Malaysia.The teacher explained that in the Chinese character “本” (root/origin), the lower part points to the root of a tree, symbolizing that Chinese people should always remember where they came from.
The shape of the character “本” resembles the root of a tree
The team was surprised to discover how many overseas Chinese shared this strong desire to reconnect with their ancestry. Many respondents said tracing family history gave them a special sense of identity and belonging. To ensure the project truly met users’ needs, the team carried out 13 in-depth interviews and collected 219 questionnaires.
Combining cutting-edge AI technology with root-seeking
In simple terms, RootLink is an AI-powered root-searching platform designed for overseas Chinese. It helps people trace their family roots even with minimal clues, such as a vague place name, a surname, or an old photo. Different from traditional platforms, RootLink walks users through the whole process instead of leaving them alone with passive data.
It relies on three core technologies. The AI Agent acts as a caring and professional guide. Through natural conversation, it helps users organize scattered clues and analyzes possible ancestral origins based on historical migration patterns, dialect distribution, and surname distribution data. The knowledge graph connects scattered data points — including place names, migration routes, clan records, and historical materials — allowing the AI to reason and deduce logically. The trusted mediator network links users with verified local experts who provide on-the-ground support, turning abstract clues into practical, real-world results.
What makes RootLink unique is its clear competitive edge. Most existing root-searching platforms fall into two categories: some are data-rich but passive, only providing lists without guidance; others are expensive human-powered services that discourage many users. RootLink combines AI that understands Chinese genealogy with a reliable network of local experts. It does not replace human support but makes root-seeking more accessible, trustworthy, and affordable.
Guidance from Fudan’s Professor that Grounds Innovation
A key factor in RootLink's success was the professional guidance of Professor Lan Xingyu, the team's official advisor specializing in Data Visualization and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Under her direction, the team received critical technical and design support that helped shape the project's core value.
Three of the team members are Professor Lan's students. In her research group, students are encouraged to develop foundational coding skills. With the support of AI tools, even those without a strong technical background can actively contribute to product development. Under her guidance, the team built their web demo using low-code tools and developed the core AI agent on the Coze platform.
More importantly, Professor LAN led the team to design RootLink from a human-centered HCI perspective — focusing not only on functional practicality but also on how to make AI conversations feel warm, how to build user trust, and how to address hidden pain points that users rarely express openly. This user-centered, emotion-friendly design thinking became one of RootLink’s most distinctive advantages and laid a solid foundation for the project to win the championship.
Balancing postgraduate studies with RootLink was challenging yet rewarding. The team completed most of the development work at the end of last semester and during the winter break.
They found that academic learning and project practice complemented each other perfectly: research skills gained from their coursework strengthened RootLink's design, while hands-on project experience made their academic studies more grounded and meaningful.
From Ancestral Memory to Living Reality
The three Malaysian Chinese students chose to study at Fudan University for its outstanding academic reputation, especially in journalism and communication. Shanghai’s international atmosphere, abundant career opportunities, and inclusive culture also made it their ideal destination. For them, studying in China was also a personal journey to better understand their ancestral culture.
Campus life at Fudan is busy yet deeply fulfilling. Between intensive coursework, collaborative group meetings, hands-on project development, and regular exercise, the three students struck a healthy balance. They immersed themselves in diverse academic and team activities, connected with exceptional peers, and forged meaningful friendships. Navigating challenges side by side fostered a profound sense of belonging at Fudan.
Living and studying in China has profoundly transformed their understanding of Chinese culture and their own identity. China—once a distant ancestral land in their memory—has become vivid and real through daily conversations, authentic cuisine, and immersive cultural experiences. For Lee Xin, whose ancestral roots trace back to Guangzhou, the most touching moment came during a trip there: the local food felt so familiar that she realized, “My taste buds are from Guangdong.” It was a small yet deeply meaningful connection to her heritage.
More Than a Platform, a Homecoming
The team’s next goal is to transform RootLink from a competition-winning project into a fully functional public service. They will continue optimizing the AI agent, expanding its user base, and actively collaborating with overseas Chinese communities, clan associations, and chambers of commerce to promote wider adoption. After collecting sufficient feedback from seed users, they plan to officially launch RootLink to help more overseas Chinese trace their roots.
“For us, our future career is inseparable from this roots mission.” Their professional aspirations and cultural mission have become deeply intertwined. They hope to remain in China after graduation—not only because China is the cultural homeland of overseas Chinese, but also because it is a land of technological innovation and opportunity. By combining their cross-cultural backgrounds with professional skills, they aim to make RootLink a trusted bridge connecting overseas Chinese with their ancestral homes.
To fellow international students who wish to start innovative projects in China, they offer this sincere advice: “Bring your own background. As international students, we possess a unique cross-cultural perspective that others may not have. Many great ideas emerge from this distinctive vantage point. At the same time, make full use of China’s resources — policies, research platforms, and market opportunities — to turn your ideas into reality.”
Their greatest wish is simple and heartfelt: “RootLink can help overseas Chinese find their way home—not just to a place on a map, but to a sense of belonging. We hope that every overseas Chinese person has the chance to visit their ancestral hometown at least once in their lifetime.”
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Writer: WANG Yiyao
Video: XU Huiting
Editor: WANG Mengqi, LI Yijie
