Forgotten Voyage (Chasing Zheng He's Western Ocean Journey)

Author: Fan Chunge
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: On July 11, 1405, Zheng He's fleet gathered at Liujiagang in Taicang, which is now part of Liuzhen Town, for its departure. The banners covered the sky, and the drums and music shook the heavens. Over 27,000 spirited sailors gathered, and more than 200 majestic ships, towering like mountains, raised their sails, ready to set sail for the various ports of the Indian Ocean. Five hundred and ninety-five years later, on this very day, I came here. I too must set off like a sailor. Fan Chunge, winner of the National Fan Changjiang News Award. She has cycled across China alone, completed a solo survey of China's vast land borders, and visited Tibet three times. She has written books such as "The Sky's Song Cannot Be Repeated—A Difficult Journey Along China's Land Borders" and "The Farthest Beauty—I Set Foot on Antarctic Land," and is hailed by the media as a lone female adventurer. This book is written in commemoration of the 600th anniversary of Zheng He's voyages to the Western Oceans. The author embarked on a nearly three-year journey, traveling alone three times to retrace Zheng He's route, reaching Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Oman, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and nearly 20 other countries and regions. She comprehensively explored the traces and influences left by this significant event in maritime history overseas, conducting extensive research and discovering many firsthand materials and important findings. The manuscript also records the unique customs and thrilling scenes she encountered during her solo interviews abroad, making it highly legendary and engaging to read.