Records of Observations on China and India

Author: Mu Genlai
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2001-07-01
Features: This book was written from the mid-9th to the early 10th century and is one of the earliest works by Arab writers about China. Although there are not too few Arab writings about China, most of them are based on hearsay. Iben Khatab, Biruni, and al-Marwazi, for example, certainly never visited the land of China; even whether Iben Battuta actually reached China is still a subject of debate. This book, however, is based on the firsthand observations and records of Arab merchants who traveled to China. It is written in plain and unadorned language, is detailed and reliable, and is one of the important documents in the history of ancient Sino-foreign transportation.