Most American schoolchildren learn about European traders and missionaries that explored and mapped the world. But this 18th century version of a map by Mao Yuan-Yi records the 15th century voyage of Zheng He, China’s greatest explorer, and shows that people from many cultures were explorers. It shows what is now called the Taiwan Strait and gives information about the voyage. A different Zheng He voyage map found in 2006 suggests that Zheng He may have even explored America! This map was purchased for use in The Children’s Museum’s traveling exhibit National Geographic Maps: Tools for Adventure.
