Liang Qichao's Travel Notes

Author: Liang Qichao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In February 1903, Liang embarked from Yokohama, Japan, beginning his journey to the Americas. He first visited Vancouver, Canada, before proceeding to New York, USA, to learn about the political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of the United States. The trip lasted nine months. After returning to Japan, he compiled and edited his travel diary into A Journey to the New Continent. The content focuses on "various political, historical, and social facts of the United States," omitting "minor details" and "scenery or palaces that are merely spectacular or grand" as they "consume one's attention." The writing is a mix of narration and commentary, light and effortless, yet emotionally rich. It is regarded as "the leading figure in China's intellectual and political discourse around 1903," "a comprehensive work introducing the political, economic, cultural, and social conditions of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries," "a classic of reformist constitutionalism secretly circulated in China," and a "collection of essays and miscellaneous writings." Liang is also considered "a prominent Chinese intellectual."
In late 1917, Liang resigned from his position as Minister of Finance under the Duan government, determined to withdraw from politics. In October 1918, he told a reporter from Shanghai Daily that he had "resolutely decided to end his political career" and would "no longer engage in political activities." By late 1918, during the Paris Peace Conference, Liang and his colleagues planned a European tour. The purpose was to "represent our grievances to the world and the international community as private citizens, thus fulfilling some of our national responsibilities." In January 1919, Liang and his group arrived in London, beginning a year-long European tour, with Paris as their base, and visiting most European countries. During the recess of the Paris Peace Conference, Liang and the journalists accompanying him examined the Western Front of World War I, the right bank of the Rhine River, and Brussels, the capital of Belgium. They traveled to Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, and Germany, studying cities such as London, Edinburgh, and Birmingham. They visited the birthplaces of famous figures like Adam Smith and Shakespeare, and toured renowned institutions of learning such as Cambridge University and Oxford University. "They conducted a comprehensive and detailed examination of post-war Europe's political, economic, and cultural landscape."