Great Overview of a Fascinating Nation
Customer Rating: 
I had been going to China on business for nearly 15 years now and this bewilderingly vast nation has always fascinated me, but I had never really taken the time to really dig into the nation's history and culture - until now. I'm starting out with this handsome book and 'China Road' by Rob Gifford and I'm already getting a good feel for what the country is like in ways that I was never able to during my various visits on business trips. I reckon I had spent over 30 weeks in China on business over the years, but all those trips were for what they were: business - visiting factories, meeting with factory owners and managers, going to nice restaurants, and doing a little sightseeing on the few days I'd have off. I never felt like I ever got to know the people of China. I was always in a hurry to get in, in a hurry to get the work done and then hurry to get out. Now with this book, I can contemplate about what daily life is really like for the people from all walks of life and also get some grasp of the mind-boggling size of China.
The book is neatly divided by subjects covering China's stunningly varied geography, just as diverse groups of people and ethnicity, its fascinatingly rich culture and its long and amazingly tumultuous history. It's a great starting point to understand and absorb the next world superpower that is becoming more and more important in our daily lives in the West and all around the world. It's hard to comprehend or make sense of a nation that has a population much larger than the US and all of Europe combined. I travel around China and I'm just dumbfounded by the sheer size of the land and, of course, the mind-boggling population. It's like, "How do you govern or manage a nation of this size?" But somehow, despite all the myriad problems that are hard to fathom, China goes on and now it's growing at a breakneck pace - on pace to become the world's largest economy in 20 years or so and be twice as large as that of the US by the middle of the century. On the surface of things, it seems this century is for China to make theirs.
This book gives you a good general overview with excellent photos throughout and superb layout with good informative content that gives the reader an insight into the mind of the Chinese people. As an Asian-American of Korean descent, China is not as foreign to me as it'd be to most Westerners, but it still holds what Westerners and even other non-Chinese Asians may consider to be many mysteries and odd or strange cultural practices and traditions. And the diversity of the Chinese people and its geography may be something many people in the West haven't thought about. China can be viewed as a continent in itself - like Europe with many different languages and cultural heritage. But it is united and the nation has gone through many wars to tear itself apart and to re-unite again over the course of its long history. China is indeed much more complex and misunderstood than most Westerners would care to admit. This book goes a long way in helping you understand that complexity of this most fascinating nation and growing world power. If you need only one book about China, this is the one to get.
Gorgeous journey through a vast country
Customer Rating: I visited China earlier this year on business, so I was intrigued when I came across this book. When I opened it, I was not disappointed. This book celebrates China and its variety of culture, art, landscapes and rich history with beautiful photography and educational text.
The beginning section of the book draws you in with page after page of beautiful photographs of different landscapes in China, sprinkled with verses from Chinese poetry (translated to English, of course). It makes the reader aware of the varied landscapes (snow to desert, mountains to plans, forest to fields) that make up the vast country of China. Truly a treasury of photos!
The next section explains Chinese history, complete with a timeline. The information is provided in titled short paragraphs and articles so it is easy for the reader to get a glimpse of the history and read quick pieces for more detail. Small articles include items such as "The Grand Canal" and "The Boxer Uprising". All are sprinkled with old photographs and pictures of paintings and artifacts.
The most delightful section of the book is "A Day in the Life" which is a collection of stories about daily life of particular people in different areas of China. There's the life of a student in Shaanxi, a Chinese herbalist, a Buddist Monk, a Cricket Seller, and a farmer, just to name a few. The photos and text provide a window into the lives of the people of China to let the reader see life from their eyes.
There is also a section on Chinese Culture, which includes articles on philosphy and religion, painting, literature and Chinese opera.
The last segment of the book is entitled "Architecture" and contains pieces on various types of building styles, both old and new. From modern buildings such as the 88-story Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai to an old Buddist Monastery in Hebei, this chapter contains a wealth of information and beautiful photography. The Jin Mao Tower is truly stunning inside (I wish I had gone to see it while I was there!). The Couple's Garden is typical of the gardens in Suzhou that I visited while there. One of the most beautiful places shown in called the "Temple of Heaven" with colorful painted decor and detailed stonework.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it to anyone wanting to learn about China and its culture. It is not only informative, but makes a beautiful "coffee table book"!
