Shuyu zhouzi lu 殊域周咨錄

Shuyu zhouzi lu 殊域周咨錄 "Informative records on countries far away" is a book about the neighouring countries and border regions of the Ming empire 明 (1368-1644) and their relation with China. It was written by Yan Congjian 嚴從簡 (jinshi degree 1559), courtesy name Zhongke 仲可, style Shaofeng 紹峰, and finished in 1574.

Yan had a very typical career in central government agencies and later in the local administration, where he decided to retire.

In his 24-juan long book Yan describes foreign countries in a very traditional manner, dividing them according to the four cardinal points and describing the geography, inhabitants, their customs and local products. It was thought to serve as a handbook for government officials. Yan's source materials were partially official documents issued by the court but also reports from ambassadors returning from a visit abroad.

The Shuyu zhouzi lu is a very important source not only because of the wide range of countries and peoples described but because of its good scholarly quality. It was reprinted in 1924 by the Palace Museum Library 故宮博物院圖書館.