Did Admiral Zheng He Explore America before Christopher Columbus?

Description

In this Royal Geographical Society talk, Shen-Wei Wang, a Chinese American scholar who launched an English-Chinese bilingual website to promote US-China relations, argues that Ming Chinese sailors such as Zheng He reached far beyond what was previously accepted in modern times, and provides novel insights into the history of 15th-century Chinese maritime explorations.

Using geographical, climatological and cultural information, and deciphering hints in Luo’s account, Wang attempts to extract the trans-Atlantic navigational routes, timelines and other relevant evidence. From these, she believes that Zheng He’s last expedition plausibly reached the ancient American Indian city, Cahokia, now in the US central Mississippi Valley in 1433, way before Christopher Columbus arrived in the Americas.

This event is HK$150 for RGS Members and HK$200 for guests and others, including a complimentary glass of white or red wine. This event is free of charge for Student Members.

Image credit to Bruno Zaffoni.