Xu Xiake

Xu Xiake
Portrait of Xu Xiake
Born	Xu Hongzu 5 January 1587 Jiangsu, Ming China
Died	8 March 1641 (aged 54) Jiangyin, Nanzhili, Ming China
Occupation	Explorer

Xu Xiake (Chinese: 徐霞客; pinyin: Xú Xiákè; Wade–Giles: Hsü Hsia-k'o, January 5, 1587 – March 8, 1641), born Xu Hongzu (徐弘祖), courtesy name Zhenzhi (振之), was a Chinese travel writer and geographer of the Ming dynasty, known best for his famous geographical treatise, and noted for his bravery and humility. He traveled throughout China for more than 30 years, documenting his travels extensively. The records of his travels were compiled posthumously in The Travel Diaries of Xu Xiake, and his work translated by Ding Wenjiang.^[1] Xu's writing falls under the old Chinese literary category of 'travel record literature' ('youji wenxue'“遊記文學”), which used narrative and prose styles of writing to portray one's travel experiences.^[2]

The People's Liberation Army Navy barracks ship Xu Xiake was named after him.