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If you have lived and travelled through Northern California, you have no doubt come across the city name of Burlingame. What you may not know is the fact that this city was named after Anson Burlingame, the first and only (?) foreigner who served as ambassador from China to western nations. He was also the first to negotiate an “equal” treaty between the US and China in mid-19^th century as opposed to the many “unequal” treaties that China had to sign with the European powers at that time. Having grown up in China (until the age of 15) and lived in the US for 62+ years, I have never heard of this person until today through the YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs9_JfIu_98  which is approximately half-hour long. It was a fascinating and learning experience about this man who can truly be called “a real friend of China”. I vaguely remembered in school history class in China that America was mentioned as the only western power that treated China fairly while the European power was busily carving up China. But I never learned the reason why. If you watch this video you will learn the reason.

I realize YouTube is blocked in China. But I trust there is enough expertise among the readers of ScienceNet to be able to jump the firewall and watch this video which even the leaders of China will approve.