Chinese Traders in Africa...in the 1400s...

Scientists have uncovered a 600 year old Chinese coin on an island off the coast of Kenya, in eastern Africa.  Many folks have speculated that Chinese traders made it to east Africa before European explorers did.  This looks like pretty good evidence for that speculation...

Water Wings Won the Cold War...

Well, not directly.  But apparently the wily Mao used water wings (amongst other things) to humiliate Khrushchev during his state visit to China in 1958.  The fallout from this meeting changed the course of the Cold War by making the Sino-Soviet split permanent:

The results of the talks were felt almost immediately. Khrushchev ordered the removal of the USSR’s advisers, overruling aghast colleagues who suggested that they at least be allowed to see out their contracts. In retaliation, on Khrushchev’s next visit to Beijing, in 1959, Taubman relates, there was “no honor guard, no Chinese speeches, not even a microphone for the speech that Khrushchev insisted on giving, complete with accolades for Eisenhower that were sure to rile Mao.”

Suppose, just suppose, Mao had been welcoming to Khushchev in 1958.  How would our world be different today?

China...

Via my colleague Aleck L., a ten minute video about China.  It's full of interesting facts about modern China, some of which were new to me...

Siberian Tiger in the Woodpile...

They're breeding in the wild in China...