Liang Qichao's Travelogue: Reflections of a European Journey and Travel Notes from the New Continent

Author: Liang Qichao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: In February 1903, Liang set sail from Yokohama, Japan, beginning his journey to the Americas. He first visited Vancouver, Canada, before traveling 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 too much attention." The writing is a mix of narrative and commentary, light and effortless, filled with emotion. It is regarded as "the leading figure in China's intellectual and political discourse around 1903," "a comprehensive work that introduces 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 seen as "a great intellectual of China."
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 reporters 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 goal was to "use his personal status to appeal to the world and the international community about our grievances, as a way to fulfill 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 of the countries in Europe. During the recess of the Paris Peace Conference, Liang and the journalists accompanying him visited 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, examining 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 politics, economy, and culture."