This is a spectacular & lavish portrait of China, the world's oldest civilization
- past, present & future. You can take an incredible
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If you are planning a trip to China or if just want to get to know a little more about the Chinese, let ” China A-Z” by writer & journalist Kai Strittmatter be your introduction to this marvellous country & its people. The book is both amusing & informative, giving an understanding of the world’s fastest growing superpower, its ancient tradition & the millions of Chinese who inhabits its lands. All Chinese look the same, some say. Same goes for Europeans. Did you know that our Olympic hosts in 2008 don’t eat soup, they drink it? That their surnames come before their first names? That their good sense is to be found not in their heads but in their hearts? Or that white is their colour of mourning? Kai Strittmatter lived & worked in China for ten years & in this fascinating book he lets in on a few secrets. Introducing us to some telling Chinese symbols
- but not all 57, 000 of them!
- he explains in a wealth of charming, amusing anecdotes & what they reveal of China & its people. On the way we meet pensioners who practice the art of street calligraphy, read the Beijing police’s hilarious English phrasebook & have the dubious pleasure of sampling trendy ‘ Western’ food, as well as a hundred other surprises. With the Beijing Olympics 2008 luring even more travellers to China, this amusing, affectionate & perceptive book provides a fascinating guide to this lively, sociable & friendly people & their complex & often contradictory society. As the author says: ‘ Be prepared for everything when you come to Beijing. It really is unbelievable what can happen here.’‘ Anyone who has spent a night on the same floor of a hotel as a group of Chinese tourists will know that most Chinese love _re nao_: “heat & noise”. They love to go where lots of people are already squeezed together, where all hell has broken loose. _ Re nao_ is a state of being that people strive for because it brings them pleasure & joy. The idea is to dive into as large a mass of people as possible & then, through emitting as many decibels as possible, to reassure each other that you aren’t alone in the world. Some people still suspect that the construction plans for fireworks are encoded in Chinese genes. As a result, they invented them & use them with a mastery & pizzazz unequalled anywhere else in the world. Today _re nao_ is more popular than ever in China, thanks to the increase in happy occasions, which historically have been all too rare for this long-suffering people. The mother of all _re nao_’s was the day when it was announced that Beijing would host the Olympic Games. All that night you couldn’t understand a word the television reporters were saying. _ Re nao_ fits the Olympic spirit: the character _re_ once represented a torch-holder. The opposite of _re nao_ is _tai ping_, “the highest peace”. Here’s a tip: _tai ping_ can be found in Beijing in only one way
- you’ll have to be alone in a swimming pool, with both ears underwater.’`...this is a delightfully witty & insightful guide to todays China.` _ The Guardian_`A humourous & insightful study of life in China’ _WANDERLUST_


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An administrative map of China at 1:6, 500, 000 from Gizi Map showing the division of the country into provinces. All place names are given in both Chinese & Latin alphabet. Hong Kong & the Pearl River Delta are presented in a greater detail on an inset. China’s provinces are shown in bright contrasting colours. Town symbols indicate the size of the population. Main airports & ports are marked, as well as coastal & international shipping routes, Topographic information is limited to the network of rivers. Latitude & longitude lines are at 5° intervals. The map is not indexed. Multilingual map legend

Includes:: English. An inset shows Hong Kong & the Pearl River Delta region at 1:1, 000, 000.* This title is also available as a wall map.

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An administrative wall map of China at 1:6, 500, 000, size 96 x 68cm (38 x 27 approx), from Gizi Map showing the division of the country into provinces. All place names are given in both Chinese & Latin alphabet. Hong Kong & the Pearl River Delta are presented in a greater detail on an inset. China ...

China at 1:4, 500, 000 on a large administrative wall map, size 135cm x 95cm (53” x 37.5” approx), from Global Mapping showing provinces in different colours. An additional panel provides more information about each province. Names of the provinces & of the provincial capitals are shown in both Chinese & Latin alphabet; all other place names are given only transliterated. Towns are graded according to their population. The map shows the network of principal road & railway connections & indicates domestic airports. Topography is shown by subtle relief shading with names of main geographical

Features: mountain ranges, peaks, deserts, etc. Latitude & longitude lines are drawn at 5° intervals. Additional panel lists the administrative units indicating their status (province, autonomous region, etc), population (in 2010) & the capital.

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The first part of book gives useful information regarding planning a trip, buying & outfitting a bicycle, survival skills, & getting yourself & the bicycle into China. The main part of the book is given over to the nine tours. The trips cover various areas including Taiwan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, & the part of the Great Wall. Each trip is then described with the practical information first, eg distance, estimated completion time, best time to go, & terrain etc. This is followed by a comprehensive guide of the route. Accommodation & eating suggestions are also given at each stage of the route. Illustrated throughout with many b/w photographs & various simple maps. The book ends with a comprehensive phrase guide. ...

Cloth-backed small size version of A New Map of Irel&, originally published by William Faden around 1797 & dedicated to ” His Majesty King George the Third, The Patron & Promoter of every useful science”. Counties are in different colours, with the divisions into Ulster, Connaught, Leinster & Munster also marked. A pretty vignette of a rural scene with cupids decorates the title. This reproduction was taken from what used to be called a “cloth-dissected” map, made when the map itself was cut into sections & each section then individually pasted onto an overall cloth backing for the whole map. In this version the whole map is backed onto cloth in one piece but the gaps between the sections have been reproduced in the printing to preserve the style & the feeling of the original. Each individual map is presented folded in a colourful case covered with a unique design marbled paper – no two cases are identical.PLEASE NOTE: this title is also available in a larger size reproduction. To see the list of all the titles in this series from Old Folding Maps please click on the series link. ...

Cloth-backed small size version of A New Map of Irel&, originally published by William Faden around 1797 & dedicated to ” His Majesty King George the Third, The Patron & Promoter of every useful science”. Counties are in different colours, with the divisions into Ulster, Connaught, Leinster & Munster also marked. A pretty vignette of a rural scene with cupids decorates the title. This reproduction was taken from what used to be called a “cloth-dissected” map, made when the map itself was cut into sections & each section then individually pasted onto an overall cloth backing for the whole map. In this version the whole map is backed onto cloth in one piece but the gaps between the sections have been reproduced in the printing to preserve the style & the feeling of the original. Each individual map is presented folded in a colourful case covered with a unique design marbled paper – no two cases are identical.PLEASE NOTE: this title is also available in a larger size reproduction. To see the list of all the titles in this series from Old Folding Maps please click on the series link. ...

Central China at 1:1, 500, 000 in a series of four double-sided maps from Nelles, each in a convenient format for use when travelling. The maps include street plans of main cities and/or enlargements of their environs or other popular tourist areas. The maps present road & rail networks on a base with topography indicated by relief shading with names of mountain ranges & peaks plus additional spot heights. Local airports are marked & the maps also show internal administrative boundaries with names of the provinces. Places of interest, including historical sights, beaches, national parks or protected area, etc. are highlighted both on the main map & on the accompanying street plans or enlargements. All place names are shown in Latin alphabet only. The maps are not indexed. Map legend

Includes:: English. In this title: a street plan of central Shanghai, plan of the Hangzhou West Lake area, plus an enlargement of the environs of Shanghai.

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Central China in a series of five indexed maps at 1:2, 000, 000 from Gizi Map with attractive presentation of the country`s varied topography. Bold altitude colouring, with spot heights & names of mountain ranges & other geographical features, provides an excellent picture of the terrain. The maps in this series show various categories of roads including selected tracks, with intermediate driving distances marked on many routes. Railways, shipping & ferry lines, & local airports are also shown. Province boundaries are indicated & national parks are highlighted. Symbols marks landmarks & features such as tombs, monasteries, churches, temples, ruins, UNESCO sites including the Great Wall, & other places of interest. Names of main towns are also given in Chinese script & within Tibet alternative versions are provided. Latitude & longitude lines are drawn at 1° intervals. Each title has an index on the reverse. Multilingual legend

Includes:: English.IN THIS TITLE: central & eastern China, extending from Shenyang in the north-east to Chongqing in the south & Yiayuguan in the west, including the Great Wall.

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