Word: zhengs
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...This "Overall Map of the Geography of All Under Heaven," which Liu says he bought for $500 in Shanghai's Dongtai Road Antique Market, includes notes claiming it was drawn in 1763 as a copy of a map from 1418. It purports to be based on the travels of Zheng He, an admiral who sailed throughout Asia and the east coast of Africa between 1405 and 1433. But Liu's map also shows the Americas, Australia and Europe, where Zheng He isn't known to have traveled. "The chart I bought," said Liu, "shows a completely different picture from those...
...says his find demonstrates that Zheng He sailed around the world and returned to China by 1418 with precise knowledge not only of continental coastlines, but of interior geographic and cultural features, all of which appear on the map. But these details were well known in China by the time the map was supposedly drawn in the 18th century, argue critics such as Li Xiaocong, a cartography expert at Peking University. "It's simply not logical," says Li, "to use a map drawn in [Emperor] Qianlong's time to prove the existence of a map that might have been drawn...
...whom never played competitively on an international level themselves, rely on monotonous drills to keep the women in shape. Roommates are assigned and mealtimes set. Letting loose at a nightclub, as Anna Kournikova or Jennifer Capriati might, is forbidden. "Foreign coaches just teach you on the court," says Zheng. "Our Chinese coaches are involved in all aspects of our life." Indeed, 23-year-old Li Na, who was ranked 33 in the world last year, quit Chinese tennis in late 2002 for about a year partly because she felt the training was too regimented and outdated...
...their earnings to the state?were obliged to skip Wimbledon last year in order to train for the National Games, a domestic version of the Olympics. "We believe that winning the National Games is the greatest joy," says Yan, who won the national doubles title with Zheng in October. "Foreigners are more individualistic and care about their WTA ranking, but we feel proudest when we do something good for our province or our country." Such national spirit is rare in the hyper-competitive world of pro tennis, but it's not surprising: the Chinese women's squad, like all other...
...Peng's teammates, though, her previous stint in America is a source of envy. "I wish I could train with the world's best, but I'm too old now," says Yan, 21. "Maybe the next generation of Chinese tennis players can do that." Teammate Zheng, who jokes that she prefers singles tennis to doubles competition because it's more lucrative, is more practical. "In the U.S. you can buy so many nice clothes," she says. "There's just a lot more choice there." Even after all these years, sometimes it's still about the clothes...