History's Heroes - Xuanzang Levels Up
A seventh century monk sets out on a perilous journey from China to India and back to find lost knowledge. In the process, he becomes a folk hero. This story would also later inspire the popular game Black Myth: Wukong.
Stories of bold voices, with brave ideas and the courage to stand alone. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann shines a light on remarkable people from across history.
A BBC Studios Audio production.
Producer: Lorna Reader
Written and presented by Alex von Tunzelmann
Executive Producer: Paul Smith
Commissioning editor for Radio 4: Rhian Roberts
Published on Tuesday, 19th August 2025.
Available Podcasts from History's Heroes
We are not the BBC, we only list available podcasts. To find out more about the programme including episodes available on BBC iPlayer, go to the History's Heroes webpage.