What does "Cathay" mean?
 

what does "Cathay" mean?
thanks

Hi,

Details from wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathay

Regards

TBS

thanks！

an alternative name for China in English

yup. cathay pacfic got its name because the founders believed that one day, cathay pacific would be able to cross the pacific ocean with its aircraft from china (which in the end came true :))

Cathay
 

Cathay is a Elizabethan English name for China.

The ancient Romans called China SERICA. Their knowledge of Asian geography was sketchy. They knew Ceylon/Sri Lanka was an island that was the source of their peppercorns. They called it Taprobane. And its ruler made a state visit to Rome in the time of Augustus, complete with elephants ferried across the Indian ocean to Red Sea ports of Egypt.

But beyond Taprobane, all they knew was that silk came from SERICA.

By the 1200's, there was a thriving trade port of SATIN on the south coast of China, with thousands of Arab traders and a few hundred Europeans as well (mostly Venetian and Byzantine). From this port, comes our name for satin.

By the 1500's, the name Cathay came into widespread use.

When Marco Polo visited China (late 1200s-early 1300s), China was already commonly known as Cathay.

While we are walking down memory lane, does anyone remember the old CX ads which featured Barry White's "Love Theme" song? Okay - I might be giving away my age here .. :p

I can't hear that song and NOT think of CX. They should bring it back I am really getting sick of 'I can fly, I can fly' playing endlessly when on hold to CX.

i always thought you were a young 20s guy with flawless skin.

same, lol

This is incredible. Kudos to the guy who made it. ^

It's wonderful to see the love and dedication the guy - Carlos, has for Cathay and its planes. I can definitely relate to that. The opening shot of the CV-880 in Tokyo Haneda, with a JAL DC-8 in the background, and the B707 sparked forgotten sensations of jet travel in the 1960s. Talk about giving one's age away...

Cathay is the old english for China

I know that song from CX's ads years before I know who made that song or who Barry White is. And the realization was just too shocking. I mean, what's the connection between Barry White and HK/CX? Especially in the late 70's? Weird.

the Love Theme with an Asian touch:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cvGr5so4n4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sjlQTDtTYk