Wasn't it "Willy the bot" at MtGox that drove the price that high?
I read this 'rumor' too, about the 'willy the bot' thing.
But I remember watching the chinese buying bitcoins.
The chinese influx drove bitcoin up, I think
I watched the action at bitcoinity.org in late 2013
Never underestimate the power of the chinese. Seriously a billion people suddenly being introduced to something has a big effect.