The Insider's Guide to Beijing 2004-05 [Paperback]

Adam Pillsbury (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 2004

Penned by the writers and editors of Beijing's top English magazine "that's Beijing," this 640-page tome covers everything from sightseeing and weekend escapes to finding a job, a home and Beijing's best martini -- with style and wit. This full-color book is chock full of the hard-to-obtain info about living in Beijing that is too in-depth for the travel guidebook: essentials such as how to obtain a driver's license, vets who make house calls, and how to obtain a mortgage. The Insider's Guide to Beijing is an authoritative guide and an illuminating read -- in short, a crucial read for those planning to relocate or travel to the city.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Insider's Guide to Beijing rates as one of the best, new, imaginative and informative guidebooks in a long time." -- South China Morning Post, January 30, 2005

From the Author

Unlike most Beijing guidebooks which are written by one or two authors, the Insider's Guide to Beijing is a collaborative endeavor, involving over 40 writers and photographers, all of them long-term Beijing residents. The idea, of course, was to ensure that each chapter was written from experience and spoke with authority. But the multiple author approach was also rooted in the conviction that the only way to accurately portray such a sprawling and fast-paced subject as Beijing was through multiple perspectives (i.e. the 'Cubist' approach). Born in four separate decades, the book's writers include native Beijingers and foreign residents; parents and singles; a World Bank consultant, an entrepreneur, two rock musicians, a dancer, a conceptual artist and several journalists. Each writer brought unique specialization and insight, ensuring nuance and pluralism. To be sure, overseeing a project of this size was not stress free, but working with so many thoughtful contributors who share my fascination with Beijing was a true privilege. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Shantou University Press; 1st edition (September 15, 2004)
• ISBN-10: 7810368788
• ISBN-13: 978-7810368780
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,152,815 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Insider's Guide written by REAL insiders, December 14, 2004

By 

Beijingren4 (beijing) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Insider's Guide to Beijing 2004-05 (Paperback)

If you're just hitting Beijing for three-four days, stick with Frommer's, Lonely Planet et al. But if you're planning a longer trip, and most especially if you're a truly curious traveler interested in not only the what but also the WHY of a historical but living and fast-transforming city, the Insider's Guide to Beijing will be your trusted companion. It's a great guidebook while you're in the city but also makes fascinating pre- and post-trip reading, with great nuggets of info on how the taxi cab license plate system works, interviews with local people like chefs at famous restaurants, and humourous but also useful info on topics like "breathing in Beijing" and how to get from place to place using the fastest mode of transportation.
The fact that the Insider's Guide is really written by insiders - long-time expat residents who clearly know and love the city but also understand all its quirks, means you also get the benefit of informed reviews of everything from bars to shopping areas that go far beyond a thumbs-up/thumbs-down rating to really give you a sense of whether YOU as an individual would enjoy it. Since the writers are long-timers, you get a sense throughout the book of the fast changes Beijing is going through as well.
Other than the fact that it could use a few more maps (easily available at your hotel or a shop, however) it's a terrific, jam-packed, informative and easy to use guide to one of the world's great cities.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Buy!!, July 25, 2005

By 

K. Abbott (Globe Trekker: The Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Insider's Guide to Beijing 2004-05 (Paperback)

Wonderful guide book especially made for the expatriate in mind. I lived in Beijing and found this guide book very helpful. Actually calling it a 'guide book' kind of cheapens it -- this is the type of book needed in more cities around the world for those that live in a particular place and for those that wish to experience life 'like a local'

I would have liked more maps, yet thinking about the quick growth and change of the city, maps change just as much as the city does, so it is better to pick one up elsewhere.

This is a good book at a "no joke" price, although (of course) it is cheaper in Beijing. Yet don't take a chance and wait for Beijing - this is a must buy and a big regret if you don't get it.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars best Beijing guide!, December 15, 2004

By 

Claire - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Insider's Guide to Beijing 2004-05 (Paperback)

I have lived in Beijing on and off for four years now, and this is by far the best, most updated, most useful guide for people who want to get beyond the big tourist attractions. These people KNOW Beijing -- from art/music/dance/theater, to what(and who)'s hot what's not, to family life and stuff for the kiddies.... This is the most up to date guide you can find on the shelves, and in a city that changes by the minute, you can't depend on Lonely Planet or other guides that come out once every couple of years! Whether you are a hipster or a stay-at-home mom, THIS guide has soemthing for you!