Xu Xiake

Who was Xu Xiake?

Xu Xiake, born Xu Hongzu, courtesy name Zhenzhi, was a Chinese travel writer and geographer of the Ming Dynasty, known best for his famous geographical treatise, and noted for his bravery and humility. He traveled throughout China for more than 30 years, documenting his travels extensively. The records of his travels were compiled posthumously in The Travel Diaries Xu Xiake, and his work translated by Ding Wenjiang. Xu's writing falls under the old Chinese literary category of 'travel record literature', which used narrative and prose styles of writing to portray one's travel experiences.