Westerners in China: a history of exploration and trade, ancient times through the present

Abstract

"This book traces Western exploration in and trade with China to the present day. It follows such highlights as exploration by the Russian Nikolay Przhevalsky; the travels of nineteenth-century women explorers; American Roy Chapman's discovery of the first fossilized dinosaur eggs; and the competition between two American explorers to be the first to capture a live panda. Also included is a chronology of Chinese history."--Jacket.

Contents

Some basic facts about China -- Those who came by three Silk Roads -- China's first contacts with the West -- The legacy of Marco Polo -- Jesuits in China -- Prized goods from China -- Early Western exploration in Tibet and Yunnan -- Aftermath of the Opium War -- Americans and the China trade -- Role of missionaries in exploration, trade, and culture in China -- Przhevalsky : the man and the horse -- Distaff explorers -- The last imperialist -- Cities buried in sand -- Rocks and culture -- An American dinosaur hunter -- The giant panda argument -- The communist revolution -- The New Zealander who won the hearts of the Chinese -- Rapid growth of China's economy -- Illusion and reality.