China Revealed: An Extraordinary Journey of Rediscovery

Home to giant pandas, the Three Gorges Dam, ancient tombs, new cities and remarkable terraced landscapes, the vast expanse of China is home to many cultures, landscapes and, of course, people; from plateau and desert to mines to ""pine-scented mountains"" and ""enchanting countryside,"" photographer Pao (Inside Himalaya) has traversed much of the country to produce this stunning collection of images. Personal commentary and brief history lessons (including a comparative timeline tracing global culture from 9000 BCE), along with vital stats for each province give the tour added utility, allowing comparison among regions in aspects demographic, architectural and climatic, among others. Genuine concern for China's future drives Pao's musings (""the environmental degradation, the unemployment, the income gap, the corruption and crime""), and alongside brilliant color photographs of tea plantations, native livestock, bright city lights and crowded highways will teach readers much about day-to-day life. Factories are more or less overlooked, a notable absence and perhaps the result of political censorship; the beautiful scenery and telling portraits that Pao tends toward certainly leaves a more positive impression.