Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c14.42

v2.c14.42

Up to the mid 19th century CE, between India and China there were only a few civilian intercourses but very few official contact. By the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries, there were regular liners to and from both nations. Around 1901, on an average, at least one direct passenger liner would set out from Guangdong for India once every five days, which was quite a busy schedule. Civilian intercourses rose significantly, In the summer of 1878, Huang Maocai and his entourage, a total of six persons, were sent by the Qing government to India by sea. This was the first official delegation ever sent by the Qing government to India. Huang Maocai stayed in India for nearly six months, and including the time spent en route, this trip lasted one year and five months. Back in China, Huang Maocai wrote the diary, *Yin Du Zha Ji*, *You Li Chu Yan* and other books, and made a map of India.