The Search for a Vanishing Beijing: A Guide to China's Capital Through the Ages [Hardcover]

M. A. Aldrich (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 30, 2006

The Search for a Vanishing Beijing weaves the genres of travel essays and travel guides into a comprehensive narrative about the cultural mosaic of the capital of China. The author leads the reader through palaces, temples, back streets and markets while bringing back to living memory forgotten or overlooked Peking customs, stories and beliefs.

The text touches on everything under the sun as the reader walks from Tian An Men Square through the surrounding neighborhoods and further to sights in rustic settings. The narrative relates stories about imperial customs, street food, temple festivals, historic trees, Red Guard struggle sessions, Tibetan and Mongolian customs, hiking trails, political clashes, residences of famous Chinese and foreigners, ghosts, prisons, classical Chinese poetry, ice-skating, espionage, burial customs, old and new embassy districts, courtesans, restaurants and (even) Chinese liquor. Interspersed throughout the book are stories told by such diverse sources as Marco Polo and Bernard Shaw as well as 20th century Sinophiles like Juliet Bredon, George Kates and David Kidd. Commentary from Ming and Qing era travel guides are brought out for a Chinese perspective on celebrated locations in the city.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"The stories are what make the book a compelling read, regardless of whether or not you actually make it to the sites he is describing. Some are fact, some are myth, and many span the grey divide between the two." - Rebecca Kanthor, Far Eastern Economic Review

"An indefatigable explorer and raconteur, Aldrich has peeked into and poked around every nook and cranny of contemporary Beijing to reveal the city's rich and fascinating past. His book is a treasure box of curios lovingly recovered from a world now out of reach. It is an indispensable companion for all thoughtful visitors to China's capital. A brilliant achievement." - Dr. Michael J. Moser, author of Foreigners Within the Gates: The Legations at Peking --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Back Cover

"An indefatigable explorer and raconteur, Aldrich has peeked into and poked around every nook and cranny of contemporary Beijing to reveal the city's rich and fascinating past. His book is a treasure box of curios lovingly recovered from a world now out of reach. It is an indispensable companion for all thoughtful visitors to China's capital. A brillant achievement." -- Dr. Michael J. Moser, author of Foreigners Within the Gates: The Legations at Peking

"This book is a witty and irreverent look at the remaining historical sites of Old Peking. It explains what has been destroyed so one can understand what remains of the city's imperial architecture and layout. Whether you are reading it on the street in Beijing or far away on your sofa, this book guides you through the various neighborhoods, identifying important as well as mundane historical remnants. It provides historical background as well as interesting insights and amusing anecdotes on the cultural interactions and misunderstandings between foreigners and Chinese. Combining extensive personal experience with accounts by early expatriates, the book is entertaining and informative, an unconventional and frank account of Peking history that will become well known amoung serious travelers to China's capital." -- Professor Joseph Bosco, Department of Anthropology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 399 pages
• Publisher: Hong Kong Univ Pr (November 30, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9622097774
• ISBN-13: 978-9622097773
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,046,835 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars perfect!, August 6, 2007

By 

arirang - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search for a Vanishing Beijing: A Guide to China's Capital Through the Ages (Hardcover)

This book is absolutely perfect if you plan to discover a Beijing that soon will disappear - or already disappeard. It provides you with lots of well written stories troughout all the Hutongs that probably at the time this is written are teared down, so hurry up to take a stroll with the book in your bag!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible Beijing Resource!, February 9, 2010

By 

J. Lee "J. Lee" (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Search for a Vanishing Beijing: A Guide to China's Capital Through the Ages (Hardcover)

If you have any interest in learning about Beijing than I am sure there is no greater resource in the English language than M.A. Aldrich's work. This book is incredibly thorough in scope. It starts by explaining the imperial areas such as the Forbidden City and Zhongnanhai, and systematically works itself out north south east and west. In addition to covering all of the areas of Beijing proper there are also short sections on famous sites like the Great Wall and Ming Tombs as well as food and opera. The author does not give much information about anything outside of the present day 4th ring road (the bulk is dedicated to the 3rd ring road as areas near Yonghe Gong are considered to be northern suburbs), but that doesn't take away from the value of this book.

The paper is all glossy and of high quality. There are many pictures, sketches, and photographs illustrating how Beijing has changed. I would highly recommend this to anybody that is interested in Beijing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars wonderful, September 19, 2007

By 

peanutbutter "peanutbutter" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Search for a Vanishing Beijing: A Guide to China's Capital Through the Ages (Paperback)

Even if you never go to Beijing, this is a great read! Affectionately-written and full of stories, this book captures the spirit of an ancient, lyrical city. The author, an American who has lived in Beijing for many years, obviously loves his subject. To those traveling to the city, this is a great resource.