The Journey of Xu Xiake (Volume 1 and 2)

Author: Xu Hongzu (Ming) et al., annotated by Shi Nianlin et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features:
Qian Qianyi (Qing): "The Travel Diary of Xu Xiake is the greatest of all lake records in history, a true and grand text, and an extraordinary one."
Dr. Joseph Needham (UK): "His travel diary reads less like something written by a scholar in the 17th century and more like an outdoor exploration record from the 20th century."
The earliest book in the world to document limestone karst landscapes is the "Travel Diary of Xu Xiake" by Xu Hongzu, a Ming Dynasty geographer. He preceded the European geologist A. E. de Saint-Pélagie by a century in studying and describing limestone landscapes and by over two centuries in systematically classifying limestone.
Xu Xiake (1585–1641) was a Ming Dynasty traveler, geographer, and writer. Known as Hongzu, styled Zhenzhi, and styled Xiake, he was from Jiangyin, Nanjing (now part of Jiangsu). From 1607, he embarked on extensive travels and explorations across half of China. In the fourth month of the intercalary year of the Chongzhen era (1637), he entered Guangxi from Hunan. In one year, he traveled through over 30 counties in Guilin, Liuzhou, Yulin, Nanning, and Qingyuan, covering more than 3,000 miles. He meticulously studied famous scenic spots,,, and local customs, leaving detailed records and analyses. In March of the 12th year of the Chongzhen era, he took a route through Nandan to continue his explorations in Guizhou and Yunnan. Due to illness, he returned home in the 13th year of the Chongzhen era. He wrote the "Travel Diary of Xu Xiake," a 200,000-character work.
Among them, the "Travel Diary of Xu Xiake to Guangxi" (20,000 characters) is dedicated to his travels, observations, and analyses in Guangxi, the earliest record of karst landscape studies. The "Travel Diary of Xu Xiake" is also an encyclopedic work in geology. It includes studies, records, and interpretations of river sources and hydrology, accounts of geothermal phenomena, vivid descriptions of rare hot springs and gas springs, and detailed introductions to administrative divisions, transportation, and place names.
The records in the "Travel Diary of Xu Xiake" are accurate, reliable, and specific, making it highly valuable scientifically. The renowned British science historian Dr. Joseph Needham praised it, saying, "His travel diary reads less like something written by a scholar in the 17th century and more like an outdoor exploration record from the 20th century," giving it high praise.