- Paperback: 1036 pages
- Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 11th Revised edition edition (1 May 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1741048664
- ISBN-13: 978-1741048667
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 12.8 x 4.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
93,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #85 in Books > Travel & Holiday > Countries & Regions > Asia > China
China Travel Guide (Country Travel Guide)
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Product Description
Review
'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other' --New York Times
'The definitive guide for anyone travelling to China.' --Amazon customer --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
'The definitive guide for anyone travelling to China.' --Amazon customer --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.
Product Description
Nobody knows China like Lonely Planet. Whether you want to sip cocktails in Shanghai, trek Tibet's holy Mt Kailash or contemplate history at Xu'an's Army of Terracotta Warriors, our 11th edition will guide you through the best of this jaw-dropping destination - and reveal more of it than any other guide.
In This Guide:
All-new color chapters feature treks, iconic sights and culinary delights
Comprehensive activities coverage, including new cycling trips and unforgettable river tours
Expert trustworthy knowledge from resident and specialist authors
In This Guide:
All-new color chapters feature treks, iconic sights and culinary delights
Comprehensive activities coverage, including new cycling trips and unforgettable river tours
Expert trustworthy knowledge from resident and specialist authors
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I just got the brand new 12th edition (out in May 2011). The new blue and black format if a bit different from the other LP books I have, but you get used to it after a while. There is more information in the intros to the chapters, which is good. I used to live in Nanjing 2004/05 when the new train station was being built; since at least 2006 there has been a beautiful new station, but the 2011 edtion STILL says that the station is mayhem (identical description to their 2003 edition) - very sloppy updating. The map at the front is now made of paper (not the shiny stuff as per the other guides). I fear that this will not stand the test of time and will rip fairly soon. In addition there seems to be some interesting geographical errors with the map....take a look at Xinjiang - Urumqi doesn't even exist, and Yining has moved a few thousand miles. The colours and topographical features of the map make it a lot less clear compared to their old-style maps. I haven't looked all the way through the book yet, although I noticed that Ningbo is no longer covered at all, although quite a few new places have wormed their way in.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Its always a toss up whether to buy the Rough Guide or Lonely Planet. This was the most recent of the two (Rough Guides new edition is out May 2011) so was at least a year more up to date. It certainly covers everything but its strengths are in identifying the top places to see. I found the accommodation recommendations less helpful as they concentrate on the cheaper end of the market.
On a personal level, I prefer Rough Guide's style and I find it easier to find the information in it. Neither book really looks at the 'International' hotel end of the market. For that, I use Tripadvisor on line.
Someone needs to do a non-smokers guide to China. If you cannot stand smoke filled bedrooms you will struggle to identify which lodgings have non-smoking floors.
One tip for travel is to use Elong to book internal flights etc. They are part of expedia but cheaper. You can use skype to talk to their very helpful sales team.
China: Country Guide (Lonely Planet Country Guides)
On a personal level, I prefer Rough Guide's style and I find it easier to find the information in it. Neither book really looks at the 'International' hotel end of the market. For that, I use Tripadvisor on line.
Someone needs to do a non-smokers guide to China. If you cannot stand smoke filled bedrooms you will struggle to identify which lodgings have non-smoking floors.
One tip for travel is to use Elong to book internal flights etc. They are part of expedia but cheaper. You can use skype to talk to their very helpful sales team.
China: Country Guide (Lonely Planet Country Guides)
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I started my trip in Beijing and I was impressed by the detail in the LP guide at first, but then as I started my sight-seeing it became clear that LP exaggerate everything and make a lot more of places than they really are.
This has two problems, firstly you end up going to places in the book that sound very good from the description, but then you arrive and are disappointed. The second problem is that you end up wasting time doing pointless things while missing out on more interesting parts of the country.
The prices are rubbish, simply put they are all out of date and very optimistic. I stayed in plenty of budget hostels and the price quoted in LP is usually 20% too low.
Finally, it is clear from reading the book that the LP writers like to indulge and tell hostels, hotels and restaurants who they are because the levels of service described in the LP for so many places just never materialised for us non LP writers. LP started out as a guide book for backpackers, but it seems like the LP writers are anything but. The whole books is lacking in down to earth advice on travelling and is full of flowery language which honestly just irritates.
Add to that the searches and confiscation trouble at land border crossings into the country and it is hardly worth the trouble.
I would never recommend travelling China without a guidebook as it is easy to get lost in such a huge country where almost no one speaks English, but I would try the Rough guide instead. A couple of friends had that guidebook and it gave much better advice on almost everything, from where to see the best parts of the Great Wall to which parts of China are worth missing.
This has two problems, firstly you end up going to places in the book that sound very good from the description, but then you arrive and are disappointed. The second problem is that you end up wasting time doing pointless things while missing out on more interesting parts of the country.
The prices are rubbish, simply put they are all out of date and very optimistic. I stayed in plenty of budget hostels and the price quoted in LP is usually 20% too low.
Finally, it is clear from reading the book that the LP writers like to indulge and tell hostels, hotels and restaurants who they are because the levels of service described in the LP for so many places just never materialised for us non LP writers. LP started out as a guide book for backpackers, but it seems like the LP writers are anything but. The whole books is lacking in down to earth advice on travelling and is full of flowery language which honestly just irritates.
Add to that the searches and confiscation trouble at land border crossings into the country and it is hardly worth the trouble.
I would never recommend travelling China without a guidebook as it is easy to get lost in such a huge country where almost no one speaks English, but I would try the Rough guide instead. A couple of friends had that guidebook and it gave much better advice on almost everything, from where to see the best parts of the Great Wall to which parts of China are worth missing.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Patchy
I normally use a Lonely Planet as I like the layout but I have to say this one was the worst guidebook I've used. Read more
Published 16 days ago by A. Wilkinson
Handy, but not great
It's always going to be hard to make a guide book for the kindle- it's quite hard to just flick through the book, and maps aren't going to be good. That's not really LP's fault. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ludek Miklosko
Handy Guide
I travelled across China, from Beijing to Hong Kong and this guide came in so handy. Generally, it was spot on with recommendations, but there was the occasional poor one. Read more
Published 3 months ago by S. Brown
China Lonely planet
Awesome book if you are looking to explore China or if you just want it for reference. The Book is bursting with information. Read more
Published 3 months ago by ZAC
Maps
It's great to have an up-to-date verson of this guide. It's extremely useful when in China (especially for people who don't speak Mandarin) but I just feel in this edition (rather... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Fossa
China in your hands.
This book brakes China into regions and focuses on the normal tourist infomation, like hotels, restaurants, shopping, sights, addresses, websites, maps, and transport, as well as... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Louis
Indispensable? China in detail.
This is the 11th edition, published in May 2009, so is already out of date - especially as China is now developing so incredibly fast. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. J. G. Woolmer
Not like they used to be...
Lonely Planet today is a far cry from their guide books of the late 90s and early 2000s. I have used lonely planet guides -- religiously -- since 1998 and presently own about 30... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sysadmin
a very useful starting point to have
I used this book alot in my travels in China, not necessarily for everything, but it gave you a good starting point for places to go and see in each region, from which you could... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. A. Martinez
An awful lot to cover!
China is such a huge country to visit and of course you want loads of information about the places you are specifically visiting and covering that in one book is difficult but this... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Worldly woman
Listmania!
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