Living Treasures

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

As an initial copublishing venture between the U.S. and the People's Republic of China, this title is more than worthy of the event. A Beijing journalist and editor of Nature magazine, Tang chronicles with eloquence, compassion and humor his journeys of discovery through several of China's more than 300 nature reserves established in the last 30 years to protect ecosystems and endangered animal species. The accompanying color photographs give an intimate view of wildlife unique to China, for example, the Crested Ibis ``gem of the East'' and the appealing giant Panda. Siberian Cranes migrate across the China sky and super-elusive Golden Monkeys are caught in situ. Tang's stories are peopled with tigers, elephants, gibbons, alligators, crocodiles and the world's smallest deer, to name a few. He also covers the Dinghu Mountain Nature Reserve``rich but fragile''where some 1700 plant species flourish. (December)

Library Journal

Like Jo Stewart-Smith's In the Shadow of Fuji-San (see above), which coveres Japan, Living Treasures introduces natural history and conservation efforts of the Far East. With beautiful photography and an articulate text, Living Treasures showcases rare species of China and the efforts of scientists and ordinary people to protect them. Tang enthusiastically describes his search for the giant panda, crested ibis, and Yangtze alligator. Other features include an illustrated catalog of rare species and a survey of China's nature reserves. This handsome book, the first co-publishing venture between an American publisher and The People's Republic of China, is recommended for public and academic libraries.Beth Clewis, Univ. of North Carolina, S.L.I.S., Chapel Hill