CHINA - TRAVEL GUIDES

"And yet... China is not merely a country. It is not a place defined by sights. It is a world upon itself, a different planet even. And to see it--to feel it--means leaving that well-traveled road. And China is an excellent place for wandering. From the monasteries of Tibet to the rainforests of Yunnan Province and onward through the deserts of Xinjiang to the frozen tundra of Heilongjiang Province, China offers a vast kaleidoscope of people and terrain unlike anywhere else on Earth."
​- J. Maarten Troost, Lost on Planet China

TRAVELING TO CHINA

Traveling to China can be extremely challenging; it is a huge country with an exhaustingly different way of life and a lot to see and do.  As such, it is important to plan a specific itinerary but also to be open to the unexpected and to leave time just to soak up everyday life.  It is a remarkable place that is rapidly going through some astounding changes, and therefore an excellent time to visit.  Here are our recommendations on the best travel books on China.

A5 RECOMMENDATIONS

Lonely Planet: China

China is both a wonderful and daunting destination for travelers, and a great travel guide is critical.  We recommend Lonely Planet.  Known for the depth of their coverage and for the strength of their local knowledge, Lonely Planet provides comprehensive information on how to get around, where to stay, and how best to really experience this culturally rich and wildly different place.

National Geographic Traveler: China

Those traveling to China should consider buying the National Geographic guide.  This may not be the actual travel guide you want to take on your trip, but the combination of photography and cultural background makes the book a good pre-trip planning tool and a nice souvenir.  The book is a good source for information on China’s cultural and historical sites, and there are a number of very helpful maps for travelers

Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China

One of the best ways to understand and enjoy a culture is through its food, and the best way to get to know the history and custom behind Chinese food is through the book, Shark’s Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China, by Fuchsia Dunlop.  It is a funny and informational book telling the story of her personal experience enjoying the food and learning to cook in the Sichuan Province, complete with a number of delicious recipes.  We highly recommend this book; click here for our review on Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper.

Lost on Planet China, by J. Maarten Troost

Lost on Planet China is a very funny travelogue written from the point of the view of a tourist, J. Maarten Troost, who explores the world's most populous and perhaps most intriguing nation - China.  His visit takes him through the mega-cities of Shanghai and Beijing to the Gobi Desert and even to Tibet.  It is an interesting look, admittedly from a Western perspective, at a vast and rapidly changing country that will increasingly influence the rest of the world.  Click here for our review of Lost on Planet China.