The China History Podcast

Things are really heating up as we start Part 3 of this special 10-Year Anniversary special program. In this episode, we re-live the drama of ping-pong diplomacy and breakthrough in the talks. Zhou Enlai agrees to meet with Henry Kissinger. The dates of July 9-11, 1971 are agreed upon. And we close this episode with the secret visit to Beijing by Kissinger and the face to face meetings with Zhou Enlai. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks for coming back to Part 2 of this special CHP 10-Year Special Series. The focus is in 1969-1970 with the US and PRC sending signals through their mutual Pakistani, French, and Romanian friends. China is still dealing with a border war with the Soviets. The Vietnam War was not letting up. Finally, Zhou Enlai sends written word that a presidential envoy is welcome to visit and discuss the subject of Taiwan and other matters of mutual concern. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Here is Part 1 of a seven-part series that will come your way over the next 2 weeks. The reason I chose this topic over so many others is this. Looking at the seemingly hopeless state of US-China relations at this time in 2020, it's important to remember we were in similar circumstances before and still found a way to hold our noses and get along with each other all these years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this arguably milestone 250th episode we finally get around to the Uyghurs. Their ancient history is discussed and how they rose from one of several tribes in a Turkic confederation to their own Khaganate. The Tang Dynasty is finished off and a new religion (not Manichaeism, Nestorian Church, Buddhism, or Zoroastrianism) will start knocking on China's door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We finally make it to the Tang Dynasty and their Protectorate to Pacify the West. Their adventures out in Xinjiang lasted off and on for about a hundred and fifty years. In this episode, I'll try and sort out the major events and players who made up this high point in the Silk Road trade. The history in Xinjiang was dominated by Tang China, various Turkic tribes, and a very powerful and warlike Tibetan Empire. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The saga continues, and how exciting it's becoming! The Göktürks, the Sui Dynasty, Buddhism galore, and lots of historic times to all starting to happen. In this Part 5 episode, the plot thickens and Xinjiang is getting a facelift. In a few hundred years you will hardly recognize it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, we bid farewell to the Han Dynasty and hello to a long period of a disunited China. The states and kingdoms of the basins of Xinjiang catch a bit of a break. We take a quick look at a few of the kingdoms of the southern Tarim Basin as well as Turpan. And what episode would be complete without some nomadic bad guys causing the Chinese so much stress? We also look at the Rouran and the Hephthalites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More Han Dynasty for you in this Part 3 episode with a special focus on the great diplomat and general Ban Chao. Back in those Han Dynasty days, Xinjiang was still considered very far away and not so easy to hold onto. From the Han till the Tang, as Silk Road riches continue to grow along the trade routes, China will be in and out of the Western regions and face all kinds of competition for the great wealth contained within the Tarim and Turpan basins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Part 2 episode, we leave pre-history behind and look at Xinjiang's importance during the Qin and Han dynasties. Here is where the Han Chinese interaction with these lands far to the west began. Though a good portion of today's episode doesn't actually take place in Xinjiang, the story of the Yuezhi, Xiongnu, Zhang Qian, and the rise of Han Dynasty China is central to everything that follows later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this CHP episode, we start a new multi-part series that looks at the history of the land known today as Xinjiang. This series will cover about 4000 years of history starting in this episode with the Tarim Mummies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices