An Armchair Traveller's History of Beijing - Hardcover

Jonathan Clements

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1909961272 ISBN 13: 9781909961272

Publisher: Armchair Traveller, 2016

Synopsis

As China s global influence continues to rise, its capital, Beijing, has become increasingly important and a popular tourist destination, greeting close to five million international visitors each year. "An Armchair Traveller s History of Beijing" presents the capital from its earliest beginnings as a prehistoric campsite for Peking Man through its fluctuating fortunes under a dozen dynasties.
Home tocapitals ofseveral states over time, the site of modern Beijing has been ruled by Mongolian chiefs and the glorious Ming emperors, whose tombs can still be found on its outskirts. Through Beijing, we can experience Chinese history itself, including its more famous residents including Khubilai Khan, Mulan, and Marco Polo. Special emphasis is placed on Beijing s precarious heritage in the twenty-first century, as modern construction wipes out much of the old city to make way for homes for twenty million people.
This book also offers detailed information on sites of tourist interest, including the pros and cons of different sections of the Great Wall and the best ways to see the Forbidden City and the fast-disappearing relics of the city s Manchu and Maoist eras. A chapter on food and drink examines not only local delicacies, but the many other Chinese dishes that form part of Beijing s rich dining traditions. With its blend of rich history and expert tips, "An Armchair Traveller s History of Beijing "is an essential introduction to one of the world s most remarkable cities.
"

About this title

Review

"'This book is like having a friendly, knowledgeable companion taking your arm as you wander through the back alleys and boulevards of one of the world's great cities. Clements wears his learning lightly, and his informed but inclusive tone makes this the perfect book for the visitor to Beijing."--Rana Mitter, author of Modern China: A Very Short Introduction

"'Beijingers, both Chinese and foreign, mourn the Chinese capital's rapidly-disappearing traditional alleysbut few of us appreciate Beijing as a city that has lasted through 2,500 years of building and destruction.Jonathan Clements'tour of the city starts with Peking Man and a jovial candy seller, and moves on through the Chinese dynasties with a readable flair. He comes well-stocked with tales that will be new even tolong-time residents. It's a book for a warm teahouse on a cold winter afternoon." --Lucy Hornby, China correspondent, Financial Times"

"It's hard to imagine anyone better equipped than Jonathan Clements to compile a readable account of Beijing. Authoritative yet deliciously irreverent, his history of the city is an essential companion for the visitor and a treasure trove of vicarious delights for the chair-bound." --John Keay, author of China: A History

"If New York and London dominated the global imagination in the twentieth century, Beijing is already in the process of usurping them in the twenty first. An extraordinarily exciting city, possessed of enormous optimism and expectation, it has a long, fascinating and complex history. Jonathan Clements unpeels the onion that is Beijing and in a highly readable and informative book gives us a wonderful glimpse of the history of a compelling city." --Martin Jacques, author of When China Rules the World

About the Author

Jonathan Clements is visiting professor at Xi an Jiaotong University in China. He is the author of many books, including "Modern China: All That Matters" and "An Armchair Traveller s History of the Silk Road."
"

About this edition

• Publisher: Armchair Traveller
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 1909961272
• ISBN 13: 9781909961272
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320