Born in China, raised in US: adoptees explore the meaning of identity at Lunar New Year

South China Morning PostEN 2 min read 100% complete by Lucy QuagginFebruary 19, 2026 at 03:03 PM

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medium article 2 min

The article explores the complex feelings of Chinese adoptees raised in the US during Lunar New Year. For many, the holiday evokes mixed emotions about their heritage, birth families, and identity. Adopted children, now adults, are examining what it means to be both Chinese and American, often navigating feelings of joy, sadness, and difficulty. China's international adoption program, which began in 1992 due to the one-child policy and societal preference for males, ended in 2024 because of the country's shrinking population. Organizations like China's Children International cite the one-child policy and traditional familial structures as reasons for families giving up their children.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Washington 40% Illinois 40% Fuzhou 50% Hunan ×250% China's Children International 60% Phoebe McChesney ×260% LuLu Grant ×270% United States 80% China ×790%

Keywords

international adoption 90% chinese adoptees 80% lunar new year 80% birth family 70% identity 70% chinese culture 60% one-child policy 60% china 50% heritage 50% cultural identity 40%

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South China Morning Post

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international adoption chinese adoptees lunar new year birth family identity chinese culture one-child policy china heritage cultural identity

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