Yangtze

Flowing over 3,900 miles, the Yangtze is as vast, varied, and mysterious as China itself. It rises in the highlands of Tibet, where glaciers create a network of icy channels that form what the Chinese call the Long River. From here, it snakes and cascades its way through some of the world’s most spectacular scenery, into the precipitous mountains, narrow gorges, and lush lowlands of eastern China. Yangtze follows the river on its journey through China; as it does so, it explores the teeming human activity along the river’s banks, its flora and fauna, and its role in some of the turning points in Chinese history. The book also examines the changes and challenges affecting the Yangtze today, including the controversial Three Gorges Dam. Beautiful and informative, Yangtze is a superb portrayal of the river and its long and absorbing history.

Weaving together history and natural history, and illustrated with 120 color photos and maps, Yangtze is an illuminating portrait of one of the world's great rivers.

Flowing over 3,900 miles, the Yangtze is as vast, varied, and mysterious as China itself. It rises in the highlands of Tibet, where glaciers create a network of icy channels that form what the Chinese call the Long River. From here, it snakes and cascades its way through some of the world's most spectacular scenery, into the precipitous mountains, narrow gorges, and lush lowlands of eastern China. Yangtze follows the river on its journey through China; as it does so, it explores the teeming human activity along the river's banks, its flora and fauna, and its role in some of the turning points in Chinese history. The book also examines the changes and challenges affecting the Yangtze today, including the controversial Three Gorges Dam. Beautiful and informative, Yangtze is a superb portrayal of the river and its long and absorbing history.

Library Journal

The Yangtze, which stretches from one end of China to the other, is one of the world's longest and most fascinating rivers. Wilkinson (Restoration: The Story Continues), who has written some 40 books on history, architecture, and the arts, here brings his vast expertise to the Yangtze, elaborating on the history, culture, geography, wildlife, and flora that can be found along the banks of this great river. He invites readers to follow its 3900-mile length, from its headwaters in Tibet through mountain passes, gorges, and rapids and along fertile plains-until it disperses itself into the ocean at the port of Shanghai. Depicting spectacular scenery, indigenous people, and historical landmarks, the book's 120 color photographs are divided into four parts by geographical area: the Upper Reaches, the Three Gorges (including an intensive look at the Three Gorges Dam), the Middle Reaches, and the Lower Reaches. The quality of these images varies somewhat, keeping the work as a whole from being truly exceptional. Nevertheless, this joy of a book is recommended for the quality of Wilkinson's writing and his extensive coverage of the subject.-Karen MacMurray, Cape Coral P.L., FL Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.