Paul’s great granddaughter, Anne Splingaerd Megowan, published a biography of her illustrious ancestor, The Belgian Mandarin, in 2008. In the course of her thirteen years of research leading to the publication of the book, she learned about fellow descendants, and is sharing her knowledge through this site. Read more...
Browse the latest family news, findings and events
Eight descendants of Paul Splingaerd were invited to participate in the ceremonies on August 26th in the city of Lanzhou, China, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the First Steel Bridge Across the Yellow River, now known as Zhongshan Qiao. And, they are are given......
We sadly report the death of Anne’s father Joeseph Splingaerd, in a tragic fire that consumed his home in Huntington Beach, California. Services were held at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City on Tuesday, May 3, 2011 at 1:00 pm. Eulogy by Daughter Anne Eulogy......
Paul was knighted by King Leopold II of Belgium and awarded the “Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Couronne”, Order of the Crown, medal in 1897....
In 1879 a 25-year old Belgian named Alfred Blondel traveled around the world to complement his education in science and engineering. His travels took him through Northern China and Mongolia, and when his great granddaughter, Martine Bouquelle of Brussels came across his diary, she contacted......
Read about Paul in English Read about Paul in French...
Zhongshan Bridge or Yellow River (Huanghe) Iron Bridge lies at the foot of the White Pagoda Mountain. It was the first bridge over the Yellow River in beautiful Lanzhou, China. And, it may not have been built as early as it was if it were......
I just ran across this video ” Vladimir Nabokov and the Flemish Mandarin”. It attempts to show on some level why Russian-American novelist, Vladmir Nabokov (1899 – 1977) may have been intrigued with the life of Paul Splingaerd. Characters in several famous novels and even......
Splingaerd 2008 Ottenburg Reunion: Description and Report to Family Members by Dominic Bowen As promised, I am writing to you to share some photos, documents and a brief diary style report on the tremendously successful Splingaerd reunion in Ottenburg, Belgium which took place a little......
Lanzhou Bridge Centennial and Honorary Citizen Awards. The biggest event of the year was my August trip to Lanzhou, China. It was a memorable one. Along with seven other descendants of Paul Splingaerd, the subject of my book, The Belgian Mandarin, I was invited to......
Read the amazing story of Paul Splingaerd. A Brussels orphan, Paul migrated to China from his native Belgium — and became an honored Chinese Mandarin and a political ambassador and bridge between his country of birth and his adoptive one. It’s an incredible read.
