This is Hessler's third book on China -- a good read, though not as enjoyable and well-composed as the first two.

I read this non-fiction title for my book club's April pick. The author travels all over China: along the Great Wall touching into Mongolia and Tibet, as well as around Beijing (settling in a small village named Sancha) and then to the south visiting factory towns. The first part of the book chronicles the Great Wall trips which really drew me into the writer's journey and it was easy to keep following him to the other places. Hessler's writing is very readable and flows easily between descriptions of beautiful landscape to business facts about China. The people he grows close to in these years come alive in his words and it added a very personal touch to the outer more national concerns he talks about. I did not know that much about contemporary China so I feel like I learned a lot while having a very nice reading experience. I definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in China. I might check out his other books as well, Oracle Bones and River Town, which are also about his travels in China.

From Marian

Well written. But, I found the story line a bit stretched after page 45..... have a glass of wine handy !

"In this travelogue/memoir/econ lesson, Hessler begins with an epic road trip across China, following the Great Wall, then he lives for a while in a mountain village. The final section focuses on a small factory town. Through the everyday lives of individuals, Hessler gives us a fascinating portrait of an ancient country hurtling into the 21st century, informed by his trademark wit and insight." Top 10 Books of 2010: Robin Lenz