From 1752 to 1753, by
the order of King Joseph I, the Portuguese embassy led by Francisco Pacheco de
Sampaio was dispatched to China. This article attempts to use several Chinese
and Portuguese historical documents to clarify historical facts with emphasis
on the experience of Pacheco’s embassy at the Old Summer Palace. After the
Portuguese embassy arrived in China, Emperor Qianlong met with it for five
times at the Old Summer Palace. In these audiences, the two parts played their
respective roles, fulfilled their respective tasks, and to a certain extent,
achieved their respective aspirations. This historical dialogue between China
and Portugal was a significant attempt to promote the knowledge and
understanding between the two parts.
