Written by: Haroon Shuaib
Posted on: August 25, 2021 | 
| 中文
Ibn Battuta traveled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, totaling around 117,000 km over a period of 30 years
Many of history’s greatest explorers had fascinating accounts to give of their travels to China. From Arabs to Europeans, China’s rich culture and natural beauty enchanted all those who witnessed it. The accounts they left behind offer precious insight into the lives of ancient Chinese civilizations. In the work of these great travelers and explorers, there is a wealth of knowledge about one of the world’s oldest cultures.
Al-Yaqubi, the first historian of world cultures, wrote ‘Book of Countries’. Completed in 891, the book notes, ‘China is an immense country that can be reached by crossing seven seas; each of these with its own color, wind, fish, and breeze, which could not be found in another’.Ibn-Khordadbeh of the 9th century, wrote ‘Book of Roads and Provinces’, which gave a description of the main trade routes of the world including China, Korea, and Japan.
Other Muslim travelers from the 9th and 10th centuries include Ibn-al-Faqih, who compares the customs, diets, codes of dress, rituals, and flora and fauna of China and India; and Abu-al-Faraj who noted, ‘It (China) has 300 cities, and that whoever travels in China has to register his name, the date of his journey… what he carries with him, and his attendants… the reasoning behind this was a fear that something might harm the traveler and thereby bring shame to the ruler’.
A mural painting of China from the 10th century
Jamal-ud-Din Muḥammad, whose Chinese name was Zhamaluding, was a 13th century astronomer from Bukhara. The Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, Kublai Khan, showed a great admiration for the Muslim scholar after Zhamaluding took seven astronomical instruments to him. His book on astronomy was translated into Chinese in 1383, titled ‘Huihui Lifa’ – ‘Muslim System of Calendar Astronomy,’ but the original work was lost. He also conducted a large-scale geographical survey of Yuan Empire, which was presented to the Emperor in 1291 in 755 volumes.
Morocco born Ibn Battuta was, without doubt, one of world's greatest travelers. A contemporary of Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta left behind a detailed account of his remarkable journeys throughout the world. As the Muslim empire spread, travel became popular, and the need to chronicle political and military geography imperative.
The travels of Ibn Battuta, Source - Waines
Ibn Battuta’s record of his travels, unlike some of his predecessors and many after him, is not just an academic account of the nearby or far off places such as Cairo, Damascus, Turkey, Delhi, the Maldives, Spain, Mali or the farthest of them all, China. His account is full of exciting details of his adventures including contests with pirates, kidnappings, shipwrecks, and prevailing diseases. His vivid accounts of foods and drinks, traditions and mysticism of far off lands are all laced with an engaging incredulity and humor. According to documented records, Ibn Battuta travelled more than any other explorer in pre-modern history, totaling around 117,000 km over a period of 30 years.
It is said that it was during his passing through Alexandria that he met two pious men. One was Sheikh Burhanuddin, who is supposed to have foretold the destiny of Ibn Battuta as a world traveler.
During his time in India, Ibn Battuta, served in high offices of government. He was more than pleased when an opportunity finally arose, and an embassy arrived from China asking permission to rebuild a Himalayan Buddhist temple popular with Chinese pilgrims.
Ibn Battuta arrives in China
Ibn Battuta was given charge of the embassy, but at the start of his journey to China, he and his large retinue were attacked by a group of bandits. Separated from his companions, he was robbed, kidnapped, and nearly lost his life. Despite many setbacks, reluctant to return to Delhi, he made a detour to Maldives. After spending nine months in the capital, Male, Ibn Battuta arrived in Quanzhou, China in 1345. He was immediately impressed by the size of the Chinese territory and the fact that it had ‘all kinds of products, fruits, cereals, gold, and silver’. He said ‘no other land could be compared to it’.
One of the first things he noted was that Muslims referred to the city of Quanzhou as ‘Zaytun’ - Olive, but there were no olives to be found in this region. Ibn Battuta was particularly impressed by the mastery of the local artists and craftsmen, and the fine silk and porcelain produced by them. He also recorded his admiration for the excellence of fruits such as plums and watermelons and the advantages of paper money. His account of manufacturing process of large ships in the city of Quanzhou is most fascinating. He also documented Chinese cuisine, and noted the large size of chickens in China. ‘The hens ... in China are ... bigger than geese in our country,’ he noted.
Modern-day Quanzhou has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site (credits to CGTN)
According to Ibn Battuta’s chronicles, Hangzhou was one of the largest cities he had ever seen. The city’s natural beauty left him spell-bound. He noted that ‘the city of Hangzhou sat on a beautiful lake surrounded by gentle green hills’. He was particularly impressed by the large number of well-crafted and well-painted Chinese wooden ships, with colored sails and silk awnings, assembling in the canals.
Historic copy of selected parts of Rihla by Ibn Battuta
His next stop was Beijing where he introduced himself as the ambassador of the Delhi Sultanate. The Yuan rulers had an ‘open door’ policy that encouraged trade and visitors. Ibn Battuta described the Chinese capital as ‘one of the largest metropolises in the world’. He was invited to the Yuan imperial palace, which he noted, was made of wood. He was amazed that silk was being used as clothing even by the less fortunate people like beggars and monks. He notes, "China is the safest and most agreeable country in the world for the traveler. You can travel all alone across the land for nine months without fear, even if you are carrying much wealth." In 1346, Ibn Battuta left Beijing and exited China via Fuzhou.
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