Customer Reviews

Berlitz Pocket Guide China (Berlitz Pocket Guides)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

We've bought Berlitz Guides before and have been thoroughly satisfied, but wondered how a pocket sized book could cover the vast expanse of China. But leave it to Berlitz- they've managed in a pocket-sized inexpensive book to cover highlights of history, geography, and essential tourist information of many of the locations tourists will visit. Our visit, including Beijing, Xian and Guilin, was covered well enough that we were able to communicate intelligently with the Chinese tourist agency planning our itinerary. Kudos to Berlitz Guide.

I recently took a trip to China. This book has good information but needs an update. Examples:

1. It says that the town of Yangshuo is "even prettier than Guilin, and without the full-on tour-group tourism of Guilin, attracts droves of independent travelers". (p 108). The place is mobbed with tourists and tour buses. Pretty place, though.

2. It says that the Big Wild Goose Pagoda "rises in the middle of farming country". (p 187) The pagoda is in the middle of a highly built-up area that probably has been built since the review was made.

This is the perfect size to take on trip 5 1/2 x4 inches perfect size to carry along. A small amount of info for each city.Its lightweight.
Easy read.I took this one along to China I just came back last night.

On a recent three-week tour of China, we made four domestic flights with a checked luggage weight limit of 20 kg. (44 lbs.) and an official carry-on limit of 5 kg. (11 lbs.) That meant I had to count every ounce that I packed. Most tour books were too large and heavy. This book was heavier than I expected because of the high quality paper used but was worth the weight because it covered almost all the things that the big books did but was much more compact. It has a few maps, a few common phrases, some basic background and history, a good overview of the most common tourist sights, and an excellent section on travel tips. It does not include Hong Kong.