Evening star., 1934-02-17
CHINESE is HERE
ON WORLD TOUR
Poon Tuck Wing Is Guest of
Chinese Legation During
Stay in Capital.

Shades Of ancient Chinese culture,
which included world travel at matur-
ity, have returned to the modern day
era in the person Of Poon Tuck Wing,
who arrived in washington yesterday
after completing over 10000 miles Of
travel on foot and bicycle. He is a
guest of the Chinese legation here
for a few days before continuing his
tour of the world.
Three years and seven months ago
Wing was 81 years of age, and had
Of the world. His parents were we'll
to-do Chinese merchants, and agreed
to permit him to embark on his
travels.
Starting from his home near Shang-
hal, Wing walked through South
China and Indo-China. From there
he travelled by bicycle through Siam,
Malay, India, Persia, Iraq, Syria, Pal
estine and Egypt. where he embarked
by boat for Greece.
Attacked by Brigands.
In Arabia, Wing said, he met with
some of his worst troubles. Twice he
was attacked by brigands and all his
equipment stolen. However, he plead
ed with the bandits to allow him to
retain his album in which was a
record of his travels, including auto
graphs of famous persons in each
country he visited. They allowed him
to keep his album only after hours of
pleading, he said
Crossing the Syrian desert, troubles
again beset him. Travelling by night
by the stars and sleeping by day. he
last him seven days in addition to his
regular 35-pound pack. He COM
pleted the journey In six days. follow
ing winding trails and carrying his
pack on his bicycle.
In many countries he was accom-
panied for short distances by parties
OF cyclists, who, too, felt the tug
Of the open road.
In Bombay, India. he had an in
Gandhi, who Is difficult TO see, Wing
said, because the Mahatma's where
abouts are not always known
From Greece Wing walked through
Turkey and up into Bulgaria, Ru-
mania, Hungary. Austria, Switzer-
land, France, Belgium, the Neither
lands, Germany, Denmark, Norway,
Sweden and then to England. Part
Of the time he travelled by bicycle, but
mostly he walked.
Visits American Cities.
From England Wing came to New
York, arriving January 4. Since
that time he has been visiting in the
largest American cities, and eight
days ago started for Washington. He
stopped at Trenton, Philadelphia and
Baltimore en- route.
Probably he will leave Monday and
expects to continue on west to Chi
cago, then to San Francisco, and
from there will travel through
Mexico, South America and across by
boat to Australia, crossing the Aus
tralian continent also on foot.
He expects his travels will occupy
about three more years.
In each country visited Wing has
collected many different objects,
Wnlcn ne SenQS 10 MS NOME. WHeIc
he will assemble them into a museum
for the Chinese government on COM
pletion of his tour.
In India, Wing said, he protected
himself by a peculiar native device,
Tigers were rampant and travelling
was precarious in the wilder regions,
At night. when tigers shifted too
closely his solitary bed, Wing carried
Chinese gong, which he struck II
danger appeared to be imminent. The
sound of the gong, he said, frightened
the tigers and they slipped away into
the night.
Wing is a guest of the Chinese le-
CATION while in Washington. Yes
terday afternoon he was received by
UnderSecretary of State William
Phillips and by DR.. Stanley Horn
beck. chief of the Far East Division
of the State Department.
He plans to visit the various gov
ernmental departments in washing
ton. A reception will be held for
Wing by the Chinese community
Sunday afternoon.