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| Beijing Walks (Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong, ISBN: 9789622177628) Beijing is a microcosm of Chinese history and culture. Ever since Marco Polo published his wide-eyed report on Khanbaligh, the city of the Mongol kihans, Peking - as Beijing has been known for most of the past 300 years - has captured the western imagination as few other ancient cities have. Beijing Walks presents six detailed walking tours of the most important historic quarters of the Chinese capital. Included are the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Tiananmen Square, all placed in their imperial contexts and enlivened with traditional maps, drawings and photographs. Beijing Walks offers vital information on everything from feng shui, Pekingese dogs and Peking duck to Peking Opera and the emperors' private lives, evoking the sights, sounds and smells of old Peking, its pleasures and its grandeur. The book features and extensive introduction, with an historical overview and general travel advice and information; the advantages of off-season travel; maps of each walk and a select list of restaurants and hotels. more>> | |
| Exploring Phuket and Phi Phi (Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong, ISBN: 9789622177833) Exploring Phuket and Phi Phi is a fresh, frank and colourful look at two of Thailand's most popular tourist destinations. In spite of rising prices and over development much of this former paradise remains natural and delightful. This guide takes the independent traveller on a tour of the islands' history and natural attractions as well as pointing the way to the best places to stay from charming huts on secluded beaches to swank villas with infinity pools. Detailed maps, colour photos, and an engaging insightful text makes this guide an indispensable companion for anyone visiting or thinking of visiting. more>> | |
| Kamchatka (Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong, ISBN: 9789622177802) Why go to Kamchatka? There are no luxury hotels or international spas; no jolly pubs or swanky wine bars and even if there were glamorous beach resorts there are almost no roads to get to them. Although there is a plethora of fish, nowhere can you find it more wonderfully cooked than on a Kamchatkan campfire. This extraordinary country is not for the faint-hearted. more>> | |
| Kazakhstan (Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong, ISBN: 9789622177895) Kazakhstan is one of Asia's least known countries - until the 'Borat' movie took the world by storm in 2006. Now, this land of rich history, inspirational landscapes and welcoming people shares it wonders with a curious world. This Odyssey travel guide to Kazakhstan is the first international language guide. It covers topics as diverse as the future of Kazakhstan's energy resources, investment potential for business travellers, archaeological wealth, architectur - alongside geography, history, politics, language, cuisine and the arts. As a travel guide it includes street plans, traveller's tips, travel agents. In other words crammed full information - a book for before, after and during any visit to Kazakhstan. more>> | |
| Land of the High Flags (Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong, ISBN: 9789622177864) When the going was good, a young American woman travelled to the then-remote country of Afghanistan. A classic memoir in the tradition of Rebecca West, Rosanne Klass's Land of the High Flags is an insightful account of the land and its proud people. She was the first woman to teach boys from the country's villages at a time when Afghan women were still kept hidden behind veils. Ms Klass writes of Afghan traditions, of stark, splendid landscapes, and of the enduring friendships she made at a time when Afghanistan was reaching out to a hopeful future. Hailed by critics when it first appeared, tgus reissue of a classic includes additional new sections telling of her return to Afghanistan as a journalist - and of what became of the friends she brought to life for her readers. This is a vivid portrait of Afghanistan as it was before Afghan life was blasted into ruins like the great Buddhas of Bamian by the wars and the Taliban. more>> | |
| Russia and Asia (Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong, ISBN: 9789622177857) A study of nomadic and oriental traditions in Russian history - in this new guide the author, Edgar Knobloch takes a contemporary and slightly unconventional view of Russian history. Using economic and legal analyses, archaeology and the history of art, as well as analogies with other countries and cultures, he charts the influences and traditions of the Eastern civilisations in Russian history and explains a continuous line of development from the earliest past right down to our own times. more>> | |
| The Bund Shanghai (Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong, ISBN: 9789622177727) The “Princes Street” of Shanghai - The Bund is the architecturally famous water-front street and for anyone visiting this fascinating city it is an absolute must on the sight-seeing tour. Highlights described in the book include the iconic former buildings of the Hongkong and Shanghai bank and the world famous Cathay Hotel; also included is information on many more of the Bund’s magnificent buildings and architecture - a great guide for anyone visiting China’s fastest growing city. more>> | |
| Xi an, Shaanxi and the Terracotta Army (Odyssey Publications, Hong Kong, ISBN: 9789622177291) Situated in north central China, Xi'an is among the great historic centers of the world - it is China's Luxor. Here the early tapestry of Chinese civilization was woven, the rise of the Zhou kingdom which introduced the "Mandate of Heaven", the Warring State of Qin which defeated and unified the country into the first empire from which "Qin" gave the West the concept of "China". Then, turning westward, through the golden ages of the Han and the Tang, Xi'an sparkled as the largest and most cosmopolitan city on earth. The gateway to the fabled Silk Road of yore, traders and travelers from the Levant, the Middle East, Central Asia and beyond made their way to the bustling markets of this most open of ancient cities. This comprehensive guidebook, highlighting the city and its environs, leads the reader on a journey through China's glorious ancient history, from the origin of the distinctive landscape of northern China and the early stirrings of Neolithic culture at sites like Banpo, through its rise to Imperial capital in the Qin, Han and Tang (among other periods), to its relative decline and vital modern role as an administrative center and investment portal to China's vast northwest frontier. more>> |
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