The Rough Guide to China (Rough Guide Travel Guides) (Paperback)
*Buy from Amazon.co.uk The Rough Guide to China
*Buy from Amazon.com The Rough Guide to China
- Paperback: 1232 pages
- Publisher: Rough Guides; 5 edition (1 April 2008)
- Language English
Product Description
The Rough Guide to China is the definitive guidebook to one of the world’s most fascinating and rapidly changing travel destinations. The full-colour introduction gives an inspiring insight into many of China’s highlights, from the awesome scenery down the Yangzi River to the incredible Great Buddha at Leshan and the lavish Confucius Temple. Read expert background on everything from the treasures of the Forbidden City to the Buddhist art of the Mogao Caves as well as comprehensive information on China’s history, politics, cultures and peoples. This fully- updated fifth edition includes an extended chapter on Shanghai and new colour inserts throughout allowing you to chose where to go and what to see, inspired by over 150 photos. Rely on our selection of the best places to stay and eat, for every budget with place names, accommodation and restaurants invaluably translated into Chinese script. Featuring over 140 detailed maps plus vital Chinese characters, this indispensable guide takes you from cutting-edge clubs in Shanghai to holy mountains in Tibet and from ancient temples to gleaming new skyscrapers. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to China
Reviews
*** Bought as originally planning a trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an and needed a guide covering them all. This was more up-to-date than the Lonely Planet in terms of when it was published. HOWEVER, I agree with the previous reviewer that having now seen the Lonely Planet guide the Rough Guide is lacking in some areas. Number one is that it doesn’t list the written chinese name next to the English – rather it groups ‘useful’ Chinese place names together…this doesn’t bother me too much now reading the book on my sofa but it will bother me when I’m in China trying to get somewhere listed in English on p.10 but the written Chinese is on ‘useful’ page 18 (and knowing that I’ll never find the page needed when I need it)…Lonely Planet and Dorling Kindersley both have the Chinese and English next to each other – in my opinion this is preferable.
Second – again, agreeing with reviewer above – there is a lot of ‘background’ which is interesting but there seems almost more background and history than practical suggestions for food/accommodation. I’m looking to use the Rough Guide more as a cultural read and pick up something else for the practicalities. Sadly as almost all were written pre-Olympics I’m not sure which to go for. I think Dorling Kindersley are bringing out a new one end of July 2009 so may wait for that. Although I usually think they just have pretty pictures and little substance the pictures could be useful if English/Mandarin fails (!)…and it will be recent – BEWARE the Rough Guide has a very old metro map for Beijing which will be totally useless now (it doesn’t have any of the lines added for the Olympics!!).
*** As previous reviewers have said this book is full of background information and historical detail. I don’t use guide books to source accommodation so I can’t comment on that aspect.
The big issue with this book is Beijing. If you won’t be spending much time in Beijing or will be taking organised tours you’ll be fine.
If, however, you’ll be making your own way around Beijing and outlying areas this book is more of a nindrance than a help. Because of the massive changes for the Olympics it’s seriously out of date. Bus routes that no longer run are mentioned, the subway map and information is almost antique. Unfortunately, the sheer size of Beijing makes discovering these mistakes very time consuming!
While Rough Guides ask readers to send updates and notify them of errors there’s no way of accessing this information before the next edition.
My advice?. Wait for the next addition.
*** i hired out both this and the lonely planet from the local library before buying and decided on the rough guide as i prefered the writing style, which seemed to make it a lot more readable and less factual than the lonely planet. however once using it i found that it was wrong on a couple of occasions (with trains and comments on an attraction)and that it didnt list anywhere near enough hostels. having had the lonely planet (2006 version) for south east asia which i travelled just before china, i found it a lot more helpful as a backpacker on a budget. and didnt fill the book with hotels and resteraunts way out of the average travellers budget unlike the rough guide.
*Buy from Amazon.co.uk The Rough Guide to China
*Buy from Amazon.com The Rough Guide to China
