1 comments about LUXE Beijing (LUXE City Guides).

1. Well written, funny and sarcastic. This is a great guide for the non-touristy, off beat sites to see in Beijing. Tends to be higher end venues so if you are a budget traveler, look elsewhere

No comments about Comprehensive Geography of the Chinese Empire.

No comments about HOPE HELP & HEALING: Traveling For Treatment in China.

No comments about Imperial Gazetteer of India. Provincial Series: Baluchistan.

No comments about Travels of a Pioneer of Commerce in Pigtail and Petticoats: or, an Overland Journey from China towards India.

5 comments about Lonely Planet Shanghai.

1. A friend of mine and I visited Shanghai May-June 2004. Reading this book beforehand was incredibly useful. It does, however, seem to give the impression that the e.g hotels and nightclubs it enlists are the only ones at these price levels, but we found heaps more. Not unexpected in a city of 13 million people.

   We both agreed the book is worth it's weight in gold. Traveling in China where hardly anyone speaks English or are able to read the western alphabet can be a tedious task. Getting this information on location might be feasible for Chinese speaking travelers, but practically impossible for forreigners. Read the book in total beforehand! Make notes! We had so much fun in China, and we owe much to this book. It should have included more on the Chinese language (pronouns, a short dictionary etc) and more extensive information on Hangzhou.

   ...and don't eat the ¥180 meal in the Oriental Pearl Tower. It's absolutely horrible and the service is below street-corner-eatery level.

   - Peder -




2. I used this book for a 7 day trip to Shanghai in September 2004. It gave an excellent overview of the city: what to see, where to go, however, the maps and phrasebook were a disappointment. The maps lacked the Chinese characters for the street names (the book listed everyting in "pinyon", the Westernized lettering of Chinese words) and since very few people in Shanghai speak English or recognize the Western lettering, we couldn't just point to where we wanted to go. Instead, we had to get the hotel concierge to write down where we wanted to go, which was very limiting when heading out on day trips.
   
   In addition to this book, be sure to get a good map, complete with Chinese charaters. Also be sure to pick up a copy of the Rough Guide Mandarin phrasebook, which is an essential resource for ordering in restaurants, getting around town via taxi, asking directions, etc.



3. I hoped that this guide would have more background on the history of the city and its attractions. The background/history portion of the guide was extremely sparse. I have not read any of the other popular guides to Shanghai so I cannot make an alternative recommendation.



4. I moved to Shanghai in August 2005 and bought this guidebook to orient myself to the city. A few observations from having used the guidebook for the past six months:
   
   As an introduction to Shanghai, the Lonely Planet does a decent job for anyone who only has a few days to a week to spend in this dynamic city. The author covers the typical tourist areas well, including the Bund, Old Town (Yu Yuan), and the French concession. The walking tours described in the book are very nice as they go into the architectural history of some of the amazing colonial and art deco buildings in town. The history of Shanghai that is noted in the guidebook is not exhaustive but adequate.
   
   The guidebook falls short for anyone seeking more information on Shanghai. Shanghai is larger than New York city and the guidebook is "thin", literally and figuratively. The coverage is hit-and-miss as well, and the section on bars and restaurants does not begin to cover the plethora of fun and exciting western and Shanghainese restaurants in town.
   
   My wish list for improving this book:
   - note in the eating section which restaurants offer English menus and which do not
   - provide Chinese addresses (to show to taxi drivers)
   - provide more recommendations on some of the best values in town, e.g., massages and buying CDs/DVDs (genuine ones)
   - provide an online supplement for sections that have changed since the last edition
   
   My advice to anyone coming to Shanghai would be to
   - get the most recent guidebook available
   - spend some time online browsing the Shanghai expat sites.
   - once in town, look for a free Shanghai map from a hotel and
   - for dining, arts and leisure activities, pick up one of the weekly magazines that are available in hotels, bars, and restaurants
   
   This will help you come up with a more current flavor of the city and provide a must-see/do list while in this amazing city.



5. I found this guide not exactly fitting to my expectations - I went to Shanghai for business and it was difficult to find some really practical informations. I've found more in some Polish guides of China (whole), surprisingly I haven't been supported by exact Shanghai guide as I expected.
   For me - too many details of pubs & clubs, food etc. If yor're there you'll find your favourites anyway.
   Also the historic part (sightseeing guide) not fully satisfactory. Honestly speaking, I do not why...
   
   But I'd say - for students travelling around the world - it's a good starter for that incredible city.

3 comments about Days Like Floating Water, A Story of Modern China.

1. This book would inspire anyone to get out of their comfort zone and embark on a transforming journey. The McKees leave family, friends and a comfortable retirement to teach English to Chinese university students. Along the way, they find what fun they can have in getting to know and teach young people who understand very little of the world outside of China. As they embrace this new life, they have encounters in restaurants, food markets and on rickity buses that are more than amusing. Eating strange and unknown creatures makes dining out an adventure to rival any "reality show." Overcoming the everyday challenges, the McKees teach their students more than English and welcome the memories they gain.



2. Finally, an indepth and personal account of life in non-tourist China; not like other narratives. She captures the spirit of Chinese youth. What a delight! Ms. McKee writes so easily - her words do flow like floating water.



3. The author and her husband volunteered to live in China for 18 months to teach English to Chinese college students. This is a clear and richly written book about life in China 8-9 years ago and the touching relationships formed between the author and her students. Each chapter is short and its own vignette so it is an easy book to pick up and put down. Chosen for our book club, the book provided two non-stop hours of discussion and food for thought. In our 15 years of book club readings, this was one of the most beautifully written and most informative books.

1 comments about Barron's Traveler's Language Guide -- Mandarin (Barron's Traveler's Language Guides).

1. I highly recommend this book for anyone who's interested in learning day-to-day, practical Chinese vocabulary. The book spans 11 chapters, with each chapter representing a likely environment or scenario you would encounter every day (e.g., Health, Eating & Drinking, On the Road, Services, etc.). I would say that each chapter is comprised of 90% vocabulary/phrases and 10% cultural education (etiquette, situational background, & advice). Be forewarned, however: this book is written entirely in English and Pinyin, so people expecting Chinese characters should steer clear!
   
   Overall, this is a fantastic book for Chinese vocabulary immersion. And the best part is, all the vocabulary is practical in nature. Great for "every day" situations, and great for learners of Chinese (like myself).

No comments about Echoes of Old China: Traditional Shops in Contemporary Hong Kong.

No comments about Himalayan Passage: Seven Months in the High Country of Tibet, Nepal, China, India, & Pakistan.