Relatives referred to the red-bearded Caucasian in Chinese mandarin garb as ''Super Paul,'' the ''Belgian Marco Polo,'' and the ''Belgian Indiana Jones''; but no one knew exactly how Paul Splingaerd became a high Chinese official or why the king of Belgium made him a ''Chevalier de L'Ordre de la Couronne.''

Paul's great-granddaughter wanted to know more, so haunted libraries, antiquarian bookstores, and countless Google links for information. Anne's quest took her to Paul's native Brussels and to China to trace his footsteps from the eastern seacoast, through Inner Mongolia, the western province of Gansu, and along the Yangtze River. What emerged is the true story of an ingenious and courageous Brussels foundling who went to China in 1865 and used his natural talents to help bridge the divide between the Middle Kingdom and the ''Marauding Invaders from the West.''

Paul's four decades in China were filled with adventures that were waiting to be told. Learning about nineteenth century China through events in Paul's life will help understand what is happening in China's dynamic present.