reigning Olympic gold medalist Ji Xinpeng, according to a Chinese newpaper, is not participating in the ongoing China Open. and instead, has "went back" to the Fujian province team to prepare for the upcoming national competition.

So many players originate from Fujian.

Tang Xian Hu, Chen Hong, Luan Jin,

Lin Ying, Wu Dixi,Ji Xen Ping, anymore?

many players also comes from Hunan and JiangXu. i think they constitute more than 50% of the chinese team.

Hunan: GongZC, GongRN, Luo Yigang.

JiangXu: Dai Yun, Liu Yong, Zhang Jun, Ge Fei, Sun Jun, Zhao Jinhua.

interesting though, chinabadminton.com says that Ji is from Xiamen instead of Fujian....

i think xiamen is in fujian, check ur map

Xiamen is in Fujian, many chinese locals in Singapore have their ancestral roots in Xiamen. Another place would be Nan-an, also in Fujian.

But not many people still have any idea which is which and where is where anymore. A little sad for those who can still identify with it. But guess its not exactly that relavent anymore in this modern world I suppose ...

hehe. pardon my poor geography. :)

when u say JiangXu, i presume u mean Jiangsi/Jiangxi?

Kwun and May:

It's Jiangsu, not Jiangxu, Jiangxi or Jiangsi.

Xiamen is an island in Fujian Province. My ancestors originated from there as well. =)

Adel (who just placed out of Chinese language in college)

i think my Geography's going to pieces here.

Incidentally, Adel, (how come your name is not Hokkien?) Xiamen is NOT an Island, itis the city. The Island is called Gulangsu and it stands at the estuary of the River Chiu Loong.
If you go along the coast you will find that there are 3 cities on islands in a similar situation. Hongkong stands at the mouth of the Pearl River and Ningbo is also at the mouth of a river - forget its name -Jinjiang or something. They are attractive cities and produce resourceful people like you and me and those badminton players as well. Pacifier.

Oh freak..... damn it. No, my ancestors were not from Xiamen. They were from Jinmen which I'm (hopefully) sure is an island. Why is my name not Hokkien?
Tt's coz I'm not using my dialect name. DOH.

I can't speak a word of Hokkien btw cept for those cursing words, which I dun happen to be particularly good at either.

Jinmen (golden gate or door) IS an island, Don't go there now as it is hotley disputed island between China and Taiwan and periodically shell each other over the island. The dialect there is different again. Pacifier.

Dun worry Adel, i'm in an even worse condition(my Hokkien tt is). i dun understand/speak it.