Xiake's Travels

Xu Xiake, named Hongzu and courtesy name Zhenzhi, was born in Jiangyin (now Jiangyin County, Jiangsu Province) in Nanzhili during the Ming Dynasty. He was born on November 27, the 14th year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (January 5, 1587 AD). The era he lived in coincided with the decline of China's feudal society. At that time, the world was declining, officialdom was corrupt, and politics was chaotic. Xu Xiake had no interest in business or official career. He admired the open-mindedness and ease of ancient sages who indulged in the mountains and rivers and compared the scenery. He was even more enthusiastic and determined to travel all over the famous rivers and mountains of the motherland. At the age of 22, he boarded a ship at Shengshui Bridge in his hometown and began a traveling career that lasted for more than 30 years. For decades, he was not afraid of hardships, lived in the open air, and traveled all over the country except Sichuan, including today's Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Hebei, Shanxi, Shandong, Shaanxi, Henan, Hubei, Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan, etc. 19 Provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions including southern China. He traveled far to the southern provinces, but his health was damaged by the long-term outdoor life and the itchy and poisonous humidity. When he returned to Jizu Mountain in Yunnan in August of the 12th year of Chongzhen (1641 AD), he was covered in rashes and both feet were disabled. He could no longer visit the Mingchuan Mountains. Therefore, he could not visit Sichuan Jiange and Emei scenic spots, which became his eternal regret. He passed away in the 14th year of Chongzhen (AD 1643), and the 600,000 to 700,000-word travel notes he left behind are not only a picture of the mountains and rivers of his motherland, but also a portrait of his life and a revelation of his unparalleled talents.