Lonely Planet’s New Guide To “a Land Of Contradictions” - China

The release of Lonely Planet’s new-look Country Guides continues with the May publication of the latest edition of Lonely Planet China.

This is the 12th edition of the most comprehensive guide to China available, with inspirational photos, clear and easy-to-use maps (including a Beijing & Hong Kong pull-out map), a brand-new chapter on the Great Wall, expansive planning tools, and in-depth background information.

Lonely Planet China’s Coordinating Author Damian Harper writes in his introduction: 'Antique yet up-to-the-minute, familiar yet unrecognisable, outwardly urban but quintessentially rural, conservative yet path-breaking, space-age but old-fashioned, China is a land of mesmerising and eye-opening contradictions.'

The new edition of Lonely Planet China showcases:

* Awe-Inspiring Antiquity: '... ponder the legends and myths of the Forbidden City, rediscover your sense of wonder on the Great Wall or attempt to fathom the timeless expressions of the silent Terracotta Warriors. Submit to the unique charms of Píngyáo – China’s best preserved walled town or get a glimpse of Nirvana at the serene Mògāo Caves outside Dūnhuáng.

* Out-of-This-World Flavours: 'Wolf down Peking duck, size up a sizzling lamb kebab in Kāifēng or gobble down a bowl of Lánzhōu noodles on the Silk Road. Spicy Húnán food really raises the temperature but find time for momo (boiled dumplings), tsampa (roasted barley flour porridge) and other titbits from Tibet. Impress your friends as you gānbēi (down-in-one) the local firewater, sip a frozen daiquiri in a slick Běijīng bar or survey the Shànghǎi skyline through a raised cocktail glass.'

* Stupendous Scenery: 'China is vast. Off -the-scale massive. And you’ve just got to get outside: island-hop in Hong Kong, gaze out over the epic grasslands of Inner Mongolia or squint up at the mind-blowing peaks of the Himalayas. Trek your way around Tiger Leaping Gorge or cycle between the fairy-tale karst pinnacles of Yángshuò ...'

As with all of Lonely Planet’s new-look Country Guides, Lonely Planet China (12th edition) features an easier-to-use layout, redesigned maps and a new planning section covering time, season, interest and region.

This edition of Lonely Planet China was researched and written by a team of 11 stellar authors, including Lonely Planet’s Asia-Pacific Travel Editor Shawn Low, who wrote the Shāndōng, Jiāngsū, Fújiàn and Ānhuī chapters. Shawn is available for interviews about the new guide from his current base in Singapore, where he is researching and writing the next edition of Lonely Planet’s Singapore City Guide (to be published February 2012).

Lonely Planet’s new-look Country Guides are part of its evolving print portfolio of guides for every type of trip and traveller. These also include the Discover Series (full-colour highlights-based guides), Multi-Country & Region Guides (focusing on a specific region or a few select countries), Shoestring Guides (comprehensive guides with budget recommendations), City Guides (for extended time in one city) and Encounter Guides (short city breaks).

Lonely Planet’s promise: You can trust our travel information because Lonely Planet authors visit the places we write about, each and every edition. We never accept freebies for positive coverage, and you can rely on us to tell it like we see it.

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China

12th Edition

Damian Harper, et al.

AUD $49.99 NZD $59

Released May 2011