Read This If…
By Nanchang Project
… you’re missing the parents you’ve never met.
The absence of a relationship with birth parents can leave behind questions, curiosity, and a longing to know the people connected to your beginnings. “With Love, Understanding Daughter” is an anonymous letter to an adoptee’s birth parents, reflecting on the questions, emotions, and imagined connection that can exist between people who have never met. “I hope that readers will read this letter and understand the complex emotional layers that adoptees feel in regards to their adoption and birth families - while we do not know our birth parents, we are still living proof of their connection and can feel love and gratitude for them.”
Blog by Anonymous
… you've imagined what a search trip to China might feel like.
A return to China after 27 years became an opportunity to search for answers, reconnect with the past, and better understand an adoptee’s own story. “The Journey in Reverse – 27 years later” reflects on the experience of searching for birth family and navigating the emotions that come with an origins journey.
Blog by Elizabeth Williams (she/her), Adoptee
… you believe some stories are best told visually.
Through photography, “Somewhere In-Between” explores the emotions and experiences that can exist beyond words. The visual story captures the complexities of adoption, identity, and belonging through a creative lens. “I hope that the work I share reaches other adoptees and helps them feel understood, seen, and comforted in knowing that they are not alone in navigating these complex feelings that come from being adopted.”
Blog by LiYe Whalen (she/her), Adoptee
… you're ready for a story that takes its time.
Some stories are meant to unfold slowly, allowing us to witness the many moments that shape a person’s life. Told across 12 chapters, “Beth: A Love Story” follows an adoptee’s journey through the moments, relationships, and memories that shape her understanding of herself. “I hope that readers can read ‘Beth’ and see that despite the hardships and heartache, love persists in unexpected and often quiet ways.”
Blogs by Xavier (they/them), Adoptee
… you're curious what's on the adoption community's bookshelf.
Whether you're just beginning to explore adoption literature or looking to add a few more titles to your shelf, "Book Recommendations by Adoptees and Parents" offers a collection of meaningful reads recommended by members of the adoption community. From memoirs to children's books, every recommendation comes with a personal reason it mattered.
Blog recommendations from the NCPT community
… you believe culture is best shared together.
Cultural celebrations can be an opportunity to reconnect with heritage, create new traditions, and celebrate together. “Have a Mooncake: Celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival” brings together reflections from across our community, offering a glimpse into the many ways adoptees and adoptive families make the holiday their own.
Blog by Nanchang Project with contributions from the NCPT community
… you've questioned the history we've been told about adoption.
Adoption stories are often shaped by the language, systems, and histories that surround them. “Paper Orphan” explores the origins of the term “paper orphan” and the broader circumstances that shaped many Chinese adoptees’ stories.
Blog by Katie Lauder (she/her), Adoptee
… you’re feeling conflicted about the conclusion of China’s International Adoption program.
The 2024 end of China’s International Adoption program represents a significant moment for adoptees around the world, bringing with it many emotions and unanswered questions. “Reflections From a Chinese Adoptee Living in China” offers one adoptee’s perspective on navigating this moment while living in the country where her own story began. “I wrote this piece to reflect on my own experience living in China as an adult and hope it serves as a representation of a possibility for others who may pursue this path or never thought of it as an option.”
Blog by Kaila, Adoptee
… parenthood has brought new questions about your own beginning.
Becoming a mother brought new questions about an adoptee’s own beginning and a deeper understanding of the woman who gave her life. In an anonymous letter to her birth mother– “From one mom to another”–she reflects on the unexpected connections between motherhood, identity, and the stories that shape us. “I hope what people take away from this piece is that there are so many perspectives, lenses, and multitudes of truths that we can all hold as we navigate different stages of life, such as motherhood, and what those experiences may bring up.”
Blog by Anonymous
...you've wondered if someone has been searching for you, too.
The earliest chapters of our lives are often remembered by someone else. In “My Little Sister Hong Zixin, Where Are You?”, a foster sister reflects on her memories of the little sister she once cared for, and her enduring hope of finding her again. Originally written in Chinese and translated into English, her story offers a rare perspective from someone whose life was also forever changed by adoption.
Blog by Cheng Mei, Foster Sibling
… you feel hopeful for reunification one day.
For many adoptees, the decision to search begins with a hope to reconnect with the people and places connected to their beginnings. “Why I Search: An Ongoing Quest” explores the reasons behind one adoptee’s search and the belief that the journey itself can hold meaning, regardless of where it leads. “After unexpectedly finding my birth family almost two years following this article, I hope adoptee readers are inspired to keep hope and to never give up in their own quest for answers.”
Blog by Cassidy Sack (she/her), Adoptee, Nanchang Project Co-Director
… you want to understand the heart behind Nanchang Project.
When one mother began searching for answers about her daughter’s story, she never imagined the journey would lead to a community connecting adoptees and families around the world. “Where It All Started: An Adoptive Mother’s Journey for Truth” shares the personal search that grew into Nanchang Project, exploring the questions, connections, and commitment that shaped its creation. “I hope readers are reminded that meaningful change often begins with a small step and the courage to try.”
Blog by Erin Valentino (she/her), Adoptive Parent, Nanchang Project Co-Founder + Co-Director
Two years ago, on August 30, 2024, The Nanchang Project published its first blog post. Since then, the Blog has become home to an incredible collection of (55!!) pieces shared by adoptees, birth families, adoptive families, and others across our community. From deeply personal reflections to research, photography, community resources, and cultural celebrations, the Blog has something for nearly every reader and every mood. Whether you’re new here and wondering where to start, or a longtime reader revisiting old favorites—there’s a story here for you.
The views expressed in blog posts reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the shared views of Nanchang Project as a whole.
Our blog stories come from readers like you!
We invite you to send us your own story to share. We accept submissions from anyone whose life may have been touched by Chinese international adoption including, but not limited to: adoptees, adoptive families, birth families, friends, searchers.
Details in the link below!
