As China emerges as a great world economic power, this book shows what makes it such a special country and civilization, with topics ranging from the natural wonders of mountains and rivers to the Silk Road, from the arts and great monuments of the past to the booming cities of today.
China’s artistic achievements are unparalleled in scope. Calligraphy, jade, silk, ceramics, lacquer work, paintings, bronzes, furniture, and gardens are dealt with in highly expert but succinct entries. Monuments like the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Great Wall are celebrated around the world, but the book also presents lesser-known yet breathtaking buildings, palaces, tombs, and monasteries.
The marvels of China touch on everyday life too. The Chinese invented gunpowder, paper, printing, and the compass, as well as such objects as umbrellas and playing cards. China’s food is also celebrated in these pages in all its diversity, as is the heritage of the imperial system that ruled the Middle Kingdom for more than two thousand years.
304 Pages