Local
Gansu to hold Gobi cross-country race in honor of legendary monk Xuanzang
Updated: 2016-04-25By Li Xiaoxu ( chinadaily.com.cn )
Dong Li, a cross-country race contestant tells of her sports experience at the press conference held in Beijing on April 17. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Xuanzang is a historical Buddhist monk. He left the Tang Dynasty's capitol Chang'an (today Xi'an) in AD 629 and returned via the southern route in AD 645.
At the request of the Tang Emperor Taizong (AD 626-649) he composed a description of the lands through which he traveled. The book is known today as the Record of the Western Regions.
The classic Chinese novel Journey to the West is adapted from Xuanzang's story.