Ancestral Homecoming Retreat
A Journey to Reconnect & Remember Who You Are
April 22-28, 2025
Created for the Chinese diaspora community, this 7 day / 6 night retreat in Dali, Yunnan, China invites you to deepen your connection to yourself, the wisdom of your ancestors, and the land where they once walked
This Journey is for You...
If you’ve struggled to find a sense of belonging, feeling unrooted and disconnected, especially because of your or your family's immigration journey
If you yearn to reconnect with your roots, understand where you come from, and reclaim the parts of yourself that may have been forgotten, repressed, or exiled
If you’re ready to heal intergenerational trauma and patterns, and embrace the resilience, blessings and wisdom of your ancestors
If you feel the call to mend cultural and identity wounds that have kept you from feeling whole, seen and valued
If you’re seeking a nurturing, supportive community with folks of shared cultural lineage where you are heard, understood and empowered
Our Story
Ancestral Homecoming was founded by Xuel, a Chinese Psychotherapist, and Tian Tian, a Chinese-American Holistic Wellness & Transformation Coach. The two first met at a meditation retreat in Bali and became close friends through their shared journeys of trauma healing and spiritual growth. Feeling called to serve, they create spaces for the Chinese diaspora community to reconnect with their ancestral and spiritual roots. Through these connections, they aim to foster both individual and collective healing, cultivate a deep sense of belonging, and ultimately guide others to find inner peace and a sense of home within themselves.
Our Guiding Principles & Approach
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Authentic and Living Wisdom
China holds a vast reservoir of traditional wisdom that could be hard to access beyond the language and cultural barriers. The essence of this wisdom could only be felt and understood through embodied experiences. We serve as a bridge, reconnecting English-speaking overseas Chinese with the visceral tastes and textures of this heritage. Through sharing our personal process, partnerships with local teachers and immersive experiences in nature, we bring this wisdom to life, honoring its depth and multidimensionality.
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Safe Containers for Healing
Our spaces, led by Xuel, a Psychotherapist, and Tian Tian, a Holistic Wellness Coach, are thoughtfully designed to foster safety, authenticity, and acceptance. We believe that healing requires a nurturing environment where people feel seen, heard, and respected. By addressing systemic, generational, and cultural wounds within an non-judgemental and compassionate space, we empower individuals to explore their inner landscapes and engage in transformative personal and collective healing.
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Decolonization & Honoring Indigenous Wisdom
We stand against cultural appropriation in the healing industry, grounding our work in integrity and respect. After extensive field research, we carefully selected our collaborating local healers, farmers and venues, highlighting experiences that could best present traditional and indigenous wisdom in its essence. Our offerings are rooted in dedicated research and our years of experience facilitating ancestral healing processes.
What if coming home to yourself began with reconnecting with your deepest roots?
Who is this Retreat for?
Our experiences are for members of the Chinese diaspora adults who are seeking spiritual growth, deep connection, and a return to their true essence. This includes:
1st or 1.5 Generation Immigrants
People born in China, now living far from your ancestral land
Adoptees
People who were adopted and seeking to understand and connect with your Chinese roots
Descendants of Chinese Immigrants
2nd, 3rd, 4th etc generation, longing to reconnect with your cultural heritage
Mixed Heritage
People navigating a complex cultural identity and seeking connection with their Chinese lineage
Our workshops and experiences are inclusive, integrative, and non-dogmatic, welcoming individuals from all political, spiritual, and religious backgrounds
We aim to support each participant's emotional processing and journey, while also empowering everyone to take ownership and responsibility for their own learning experience
No experience with the Chinese language or prior knowledge of Chinese culture is required. Chinese/English translation will be provided when needed.
What to Expect in the 7-Day Retreat
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Ancient Healing Arts
Feel deeply grounded and transformed each morning as you engage in traditional Chinese Yang Sheng (养生), nourishing life practices. Our sessions will include Taiji, Qigong, Calligraphy, Meditation, and Tea Ceremony, allowing you to connect deeply with the wisdom of these ancient healing arts.
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Nature Excursion & Land-Based Connection
Embrace the beauty of the land we bike around Erhai, dance in Cangshan, and pick and roast fresh tea on a local tea farm. Our nature excursions will deepen your connection to elemental wisdom, allowing us to receive blessings from the land our ancestors once walked on.
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Process & Sharing Groups
Immerse yourself in process and sharing groups designed to hold space and help you integrate your emotions, thoughts and experiences. In these facilitated containers, we become each other’s mirrors. You will likely feel seen, heard, and deeply connected.
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Deep Community Connection
The magic of our community lies in each of you, bringing unique stories, songs, and histories to co-create this sacred space. Expect to form authentic, lasting connections rooted in safety, trust and compassion
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Embodiment & Somatic Release
Experience the power of embodiment practices to release stored emotions and energy through movement. This includes somatic & energy release sessions and ecstatic dance, where you will have an opportunity to participate alongside Chinese locals
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Ancestral Work
Learn the foundational principles of ancestral work and participate in group rituals that invite the support of your ancestors. Discover and honor the unseen influences that shape your life’s narrative, and receive the guidance and blessings of kind and well ancestors
Sample Schedule (subject to change)
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April 22
Afternoon:
Welcome & Check-in
Opening Circle
Night:Dinner & Rest
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April 23
Morning:
Tai Ji & Qi Gong
Breakfast
Process Group or Morning Workshop
Optional: Meditation, Tea & CalligraphyAfternoon:
Lunch
Excursion to Tea FarmNight:
Dinner
Fire Song Circle -
April 24
Morning:
Tai Ji & Qi Gong
Breakfast
Process Group or Morning Workshop
Optional: Meditation, Tea & CalligraphyAfternoon:
Lunch
Excursion: Cang San Forest Bathing & JournalingNight:
Dinner
Ecstatic Dance w/ Locals -
April 25
Morning:
Tai Ji & Qi Gong
Breakfast
Process Group or Morning Workshop
Optional: Meditation, Tea & CalligraphyAfternoon:
Lunch
Excursion: Chinese Medicine Learn & ExperienceNight:
Dinner
Somatic Release + Sound Bath -
April 26
Morning:
Tai Ji & Qi Gong
Breakfast
Process Group or Morning Workshop
Optional: Meditation, Tea & CalligraphyAfternoon:
Lunch
Excursion: Temple & Rituals 101Night:
Dinner
Ancestral Honoring Ceremony -
April 27
Morning:
Tai Ji & Qi Gong
Breakfast
Process Group or Morning Workshop
Optional: Meditation, Tea & CalligraphyAfternoon:
Lunch
Excursion: Er Hai Biking & Expressive ArtNight:
Dinner
Somatic Release -
April 28
Morning:
Tai Ji & Qi Gong
Breakfast
Process Group
Closing Ceremony
Afternoon:Lunch
Check-out
Offering
What is included:
Accommodations: 6 nights of accommodation either single or double occupancy with private bathrooms, AC, wifi, laundry
Food, snacks and tea: 20 meals over 7 days, primarily vegetarian meals that are locally grown(dietary restrictions will be generously accommodated), snacks and high quality, locally-grown tea
Activities: All excursions and transportation fees during retreat
Support: Pre-retreat preparation call & post-retreat integration call
What is not included:
Plane tickets or other transportation fees to/from retreat
Visa fees
Travel insurance
Personal activity costs
Payment & Logistics
Our cost philosophy is based on accessibility, quality and sustainability.
Payment Option 1: $500 non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot. Remaining balance due on or before April 1, 2025.
Payment Option 2: Pay in full and receive Early Bird discount $222 off total cost if booked prior to 12/31/2024
Special Offering: Book in full before 12/31/2024 and receive $543 of total savings, including $222 off accommodation, free access to our 4-month online container prior to retreat valued $266, and our Inner Homecoming: Ancestral Practices course valued $55. See details by clicking on links below.
Please note: This retreat is limited to 16 participants and all participants must align with the retreat’s general guideline and are equipped with skills for self-responsibility and group learning to get the best benefit from this retreat.
We are not a clinical treatment program and is not intended for individuals seeking treatment for mental health issues. We are not a tour group or a service-oriented experience. Participants are expected to engage actively, take responsibility for themselves, and contribute to the group experience.
To ensure that everyone gains the most benefit from this retreat, you will be asked to complete an intake form during the check-out process. If we determine that this retreat may not be the right fit for you at this time, we will issue a full refund.
Single Bedroom - Courtyard A
Regular: $2,888
Early Bird: $2,666
Shared Bedroom - Courtyard A
Regular: $2,688
Early Bird: $2,466
Single Bedroom - Courtyard B
Regular: $2,688
Early Bird: $2,466
(only 2 rooms left)
Shared Bedroom - Courtyard B
Regular: $2,488
Early Bird: $2,266
About the Retreat Center
Our retreat will be hosted at a premier, secluded and private Zen style retreat center nestled in the foothills of Cangshan (苍山) in a serene village in Dali, Yunnan (大理云南), overlooking Erhai Lake (洱海). The center features a private courtyard with beautiful water pools, peaceful and spacious common dining space and areas for tea ceremonies, music, taiji and meditation, along with comfortable accommodations that offer ample space for everyone to relax and rejuvenate.
Right next to a local temple emanating with incense aroma and surrounded by beautiful mountain view, this venue provides the best backdrop for deep reset and meaningful connection. It also provides peaceful walkways to nearby villages and easy access to hiking trails. During our retreat, we will enjoy the privacy of this entire venue. Together we will meditate under an ancient ancestral tree, drink tea picked in local tea farms, dance until our bodies are loose and hearts open, and immerse in conversations that form lifelong friendships.
About Dali, Yunnan China
大理云南
Nestled between the majestic Cangshan Mountains (苍山) and the tranquil Erhai Lake (洱海), Dali (大理), also known as Dalifornia, is a spiritual and cultural hub known for its breathtaking landscapes, rich biodiversity and diverse cultural traditions.
Home to 25 Chinese ethnic minority groups, Dali embodies a rich heritage interwoven with Daoism (道教), Buddhism (佛教), and indigenous and Chinese folk religions (本土教). Dali’s unique inclusive vibe has fostered a holistic community drawing seekers and travelers from China and overseas/ As the birthplace of tea, Yunnan holds a profound tea culture rooted in Pu'er (fermented tea). Yunnan’s biodiversity also nurtures a rich tradition of using local herbs in traditional Chinese medicine (中药), making Dali a place where nature, healing, and culture come together to inspire deep reflection and connection.
FAQs
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The retreat will be taking place in Dali, Yunnan, China. The nearest airport is Dali Fengyi Airport. From there, you can take a taxi/didi to the venue. Alternatively, you can fly into Kunming Changshui International Airport and then take a train or taxi to the venue. We will send out more details on transportations, carpool rides, where to meet etc. and help with the logistics once you sign-up.
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A non-refundable deposit ($500) is required in order to register and reserve your spot.
Our cancellation & refund policy:
No refund for cancellations made within 30 days or arrival date
50% refund for cancellation made 30-45 days before arrival date
80% refund for cancellation made more than 45 days before arrival date
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You know yourself and your energy level the best. While we do ask you to respect our container and fully participate to get the most out of the entire, we also understand that you might need to honor your needs and take care of yourself under certain circumstances.
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We would love to make this experience accessible for anyone who would like to join. You are invited to let us know what kind of installments you would like. We can do 2 installments or 3 installments. Unless arrangements are made for special circumstances, we ask that all fees be paid by April 1, 2025.
Imagine...
Walking in the footsteps of your ancestors, feeling the sacred energy of the land where they once lived, loved and thrived
Arriving in a place you’ve never been, yet feeling like home - familiar and comforting, as if you’ve always known it
Participating in ancient rituals that awaken a deep sense of connection, activating something within your DNA that has been waiting to be remembered
Being held and supported by a loving community of kindred spirits, all committed to collective healing and honoring you for exactly who you are
Reclaiming and embracing the wholeness of who you are, and in that moment, truly coming home to yourself
Meet Your Hosts
Tian Tian 甜甜
Tian Tian is a Holistic Wellness & Transformational Coach dedicated to creating spaces for deep emotional and spiritual healing.
Born in Dalian, China, Tian Tian immigrated to the United States at age 11. Navigating the complexities of being caught between two cultures left her feeling ungrounded and struggling with cultural and identity wounds, driving her to seek validation through external achievements. She earned her bachelor’s from New York University and MBA from Harvard, and built a successful 10+ year career on Wall Street and in Silicon Valley, yet these accomplishments left her unfulfilled.
This realization sparked a journey of profound healing, where Tian Tian addressed cultural, immigrant, and intergenerational trauma. Through restorative, somatic, and ancestral healing practices, she learned to regulate her nervous system and reconnect with her roots and the voice within. Today, Tian Tian uses transformative healing tools to guide others in finding a sense of home within themselves, reconnecting with their bodies, hearts and inner wisdom to live with greater authenticity, joy and ease.
more: www.tiantianwellness.com
Xueling Sun / Xuel 雪儿
Xuel is a California-trained, China-based bilingual psychotherapist and workshop facilitator with over six years of experience specializing in emotional healing, trauma and relational work.
Born and raised in Nanjing, China, in a family impacted by historical and intergenerational trauma, Xuel’s journey led her to come to the U.S. alone at age 17 in pursuit of educational growth. This path included establishing her identity in California, transitioning from a software engineer at Salesforce to a professional in the healing arts, and recently moving back to China to answer her calling.
She holds a BA in Computer Science from Claremont McKenna College, and MA in Integral Counseling Psychology from California of Integral Studies. Her biggest teachers are Earth Wisdoms that awakened her ancestral and indigenous soul. As a way-shower and cycle-breaker for lineage healing, she aims to serve the earth community by weaving together ecological and collective healing, social change, magic and the arts.
more: www.xuelsun.com
Ancestral Homecoming
Retreat Info Session
Interested in meeting us facilitators and other potential participants online? Got specific questions you want to ask us? We invite you to…
next one: Jan 22 Wed 6pm PST
“When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.”
— Chinese Proverb