Kristof has always been fascinated by the seven great maritime expeditions that Zheng He made to the "Western Oceans," visiting such places as Ceylon, the Persian Gulf, and many areas of the African coast. Kristof asked, "What if the Americas had been discovered by Zheng He instead of Columbus? Would the Americas today be peopled by Chinese?"
一直對鄭和七度下西洋的壯舉深深著迷的紀思道因而問道：「如果當年發現美洲的是鄭和而不是哥倫布，今天的美洲會不會是華人的天下？」