Author Description

The article by Dr Wan Lei, “The First Chinese Travel Record on the Arab World——Commercial and Diplomatic Communications during the Islamic Golden Age” published by King Fasial Center for Research and Islamic Studies in its bulletin, Qiraat (No. 7 Rabi I - II, 1438; December 2016 - January 2017), is composed of three articles, which are all translations and interpretations from official Chinese historical books recording events during the Tang dynasty (618-917 CE). The first is about Du Huan’s Jingxingji [The Travel Record], who was the first Chinese man who travelled the Arab world; the second article is about Jian Dan’s “Guangzhou tonghai yidao” [The Maritime Route to Alien Countries from Guangzhou]; and the third is about the Dashi (Arab) official visits to the Chinese Tang court, which are recorded in Cefu Yuangui [Archival Palace as Great Oracle Tortoise]. All of these provide modern readers true stories concerning the relationships and communications between the Arab world and China in history.