
The River at the Center of the World: A Journey Up the Yangtze, and Back in Chin
by Simon Winchester | Travel | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 0312423373 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 0312423373 Global Overview for this book
3 journalers for this copy...

From the back cover:
Rising in the mountains of the Tibetan border, the river that many regard as the symbolic heart of China pierces 3,900 miles of rugged country before debouching into the oily swells of the East China Sea. Connecting China's heartland cities with the volatile coastal giant Shanghai, the Yangtze has also historically connected China to the outside world through its nearly one thousand miles of navigable waters. To travel the vast extent of the river is to travel back in history, to sense the soul of China, and this Simon Winchester does, taking us along with him as he encounters the very essence of China - its history and politics, its geography, climate, and culture, and above all its people, many of them in remote and almost inaccesible places. This is travel writing at its best: lively, informative, and thoroughly engaging.
Picked up at a used bookstore in Madison.
Rising in the mountains of the Tibetan border, the river that many regard as the symbolic heart of China pierces 3,900 miles of rugged country before debouching into the oily swells of the East China Sea. Connecting China's heartland cities with the volatile coastal giant Shanghai, the Yangtze has also historically connected China to the outside world through its nearly one thousand miles of navigable waters. To travel the vast extent of the river is to travel back in history, to sense the soul of China, and this Simon Winchester does, taking us along with him as he encounters the very essence of China - its history and politics, its geography, climate, and culture, and above all its people, many of them in remote and almost inaccesible places. This is travel writing at its best: lively, informative, and thoroughly engaging.
Picked up at a used bookstore in Madison.

I really enjoyed this book. The author's own experiences and insights were engaging, and in addition he offers a wonderful history lesson. I found myself discussing things like the unique geology of the Yangtze or the history of the tea trade with friends while I was reading this, because I was learning so much. I'm going to keep my eyes open for more of Simon Winchester's books, and I think I'll also have to find more books on Chinese history.
Mailed today to Ri, who won this book in a non-fiction swap. Enjoy!
Mailed today to Ri, who won this book in a non-fiction swap. Enjoy!

Thanks so much, zosime!! I look forward to reading this one!

Journal Entry 4 by Ri at -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Thursday, July 7, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (7/2/2011 UTC) at -- Mailed, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
In an effort to pare down the massive TBR pile and be realistic about what I am going to read in the near future, this little book needs to get back on its traveling way!
To the lucky finder of this book...
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Enjoy the book!
To the lucky finder of this book...
Thank you for taking the time to visit us at Bookcrossing. If this is your first visit to our site...welcome & I'm sure you'll find it fun!
All over the world people are following their books travels through Book Crossing & by making an entry you will be helping keep this books unique traveling history up-to-date.
You can make your first journal entry about this book now! Just tell us where you found it....& don't worry about giving your name, you can remain anonymous.
When you’ve read it,why not come back here and let us know what you thought of it? Tell us what your plans for it are....is it being passed to someone else?...or maybe you're going to leave it for someone else to find - just like you did! Then, if you want to, you will be able to follow it's travels around the book loving world as well!
I hope you've enjoyed visiting us here at BookCrossing & if you do decide to join us, please consider using me, Ri, as the member who referred you- then I know I'm successfully spreading the BookCrossing word!
Enjoy the book!

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