To most people, China conjures up images of a far away land filled with exotic wonders and breathtaking scenery. This is true for the many who've had the opportunity to visit this magical place, while others are surprised and come away with broader impressions and experiences that are not what they had expected. How well and accurately a travel guide conveys basic information to the reader can make or break its reputation through word of mouth. Apa Publications' Insight Guides has proven this over and over again as one of the most trusted publishers of travel media in the world for 40 years. Using its pioneering techniques of merging evocative color images with expertly written essays by locals, readers are not only given reliable information, but a real understanding into the culture and workings of destinations. Insight Guides China 10th Ed. gives us a look into the world's longest historically recorded civilization, from the origins of the Great Wall, to the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. China's ancient cities were already bustling and teeming with life before the birth of Europe. Its importance in arts & crafts, literature, and philosophy literally influenced the development of other Asian Cultures, as well as transcending world cultures up to the present time. Following the return of Hong Kong and the resurgence of Beijing and Shanghai, the mainland's most cosmopolitan city, China has since become a world power on the financial stage, surpassing Japan as the world's second largest economy. This book is broken down section-by-section in an easy-to-read format, giving the reader a concise, yet knowledgeable background into the the nuances and complexities of China's history, its people, and the place that they call home. The Features section offers the basic background material, such as the country's physical geography, its people, and religion. More specific subjects include architecture, culture, and traditional medicine. The main religions of Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism play an integral part in the everyday lives of the Chinese, who don't take superstition lightly. China's cuisine, often regarded as homogeneous, is as diverse as its many different ethnic groups and dialects, and is broken down clearly by Insight Guides based on the 4 major regional cuisines: Cantonese, Sichuan, Huaiyang, and Northern. The Places section is really what makes Insight Guides stand out from the rest of the pack. Publications like Lonely Planet and Time Out list locations in no particular order, and those planning to use them must make out their own itineraries. Insght Guides, on the other hand, is more flexible. Destinations are laid out in proximity to one another, and one can visit each place in the order described, or they could create their own itineraries. Places and sites are also numbered, and easily referenced on the beautifully drawn maps. From the discovery of Qin Shi'huangdi's tomb and the unearthing of the Terra Cotta Warriors near the ancient capital of X'ian, to the 1989 pro-democracy movement in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, a trip to China is like stepping back in time through nearly 5,000 years of HISTORY, proficiently pared down to just 26 pages by the able folks at Apa. The extended Places section also covers more destinations, and over 90 new images and maps have been added to make this the most comprehensive edition ever released. Traveling in the world's most populous country can be very trying at times, especially when most of the people there don't speak English. A brief glossary of Chinese words and phrases in the new look Travel Tips section in the back of the book, along with travel & shopping tips, accommodation and restaurant listings, phone numbers, addresses, and websites will come in very handy. It also works well as a survival guide for those who are living in China and are adapting to Chinese society. If you're ever planning a trip to China, this is one of the few essentials you should always have with you in your knapsack or luggage. 5 STARS

 

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