China

order:
Nathan Hoturoa Gray's "First Pass Under Heaven"
3.4
China

Nathan Hoturoa Gray

Why does esotericism so often go hand in hand with ignorance?

First Pass Under Heaven | 2000 | 2 years | Great Wall | walking
Reginald Fleming Johnston's "From Peking to Mandalay"
4.2

Reginald Fleming Johnston

Who better to tell stories about China than the Emperor’s tutor?

From Peking to Mandalay | 1906 | 5 months | Southwestern China | caravan, ship
William Lindesay's "Alone on the Great Wall"
5.8
China

William Lindesay

Is this book just about a physical feat, or is there something more to it?

Alone On The Great Wall | 1986 | 2 years | Great Wall | running, walking
Vikram Seth's "From Heaven Lake"
6.4
China

Vikram Seth

Is this just an epic journey through China, or does this writer also have mad skills?

From Heaven Lake | 1980 | 3 months | China | hitchhiking
Edwin John Dingle's "Across China on Foot"
3.4
China

Edwin John Dingle

How could an awesome feat have turned into an uninspiring book?

Across China on Foot | 1909 | 18 months | China | walking, ship
Alexandra David-Néel's "My Journey to Lhasa"
5.4
Himalayas

Alexandra David-Néel

Has classic European explorer lingo turned this woman into a macho?

My Journey to Lhasa | 1921 | 3 years | Tibet | walking
Giovanni DiPlano Carpini's "The Story Of The Mongols Whom We Call The Tartars"
5.8
Mongolia

Giovanni da Pian del Carpine

Was it naive to hope for peace with the Khan?

The Story Of The Mongols Whom We Call The Tartars | 1245 | 2 years | Mongolia | caravan
Ferdinand von Richthofen's "Expeditions In China"
3.8

Ferdinand von Richthofen

Is there too much geology in this otherwise entertaining book?

Expeditions In China | 1868 | 4 years | China | caravan
Philippe Valéry's "On The Silk Road"
5.2
Afghanistan

Philippe Valéry

Is this another author who distances himself from his story?

On The Silk Roads | 1998 | 2 years | China | walking
Yan Changjiang's "Three Gorges Diary"
5.2

Yan Changjiang

What happens to people and their towns when the water is about to come?

Three Gorges Diary (三峡日志) | 2002 | 6 years | China | journalism
Guillaume de Rubrouck's "Account of the Mongols"
6.8
Mongolia

William of Rubruck

How is it possible that 750 years don’t seem to leave a trace?

Account Of The Mongols | 1253 | 2 years | China | caravan
Peter Hessler's "Country Driving"
5.6

Peter Hessler

Why is this writer at his best when he doesn’t try to be a journalist?

Country Driving: A Journey Through China from Farm to Factory | 2001 | 7 years | China | driving, journalism
Richard Wilhelm's "The Soul Of China"
4.8

Richard Wilhelm

Is this an effort in soul searching or rather a classic work about China?

The Soul Of China | 1899 | 25 years | China | missionary work
Odorico da Pordenone's "The Travel"
4.8
China

Odoric of Pordenone

Was this a 14th-century fact finding mission or just another medieval mystery tale?

The Travel | 1314 | 15 years | Silk Road | caravan
Sun Shuyun's "Ten Thousand Miles Without A Cloud"
5.2
China

Sun Shuyun

Is this book more about contemplation or more about adventure?

Ten Thousand Miles Without A Cloud | 1999 | 2 months | India | backpacking