Download or read book The Last Days of Old Beijing written by Michael Meyer and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2010-07-23 with total page 385 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Journalist Michael Meyer has spent his adult life in China, first in a small village as a Peace Corps volunteer, the last decade in Beijing--where he has witnessed the extraordinary transformation the country has experienced in that time. For the past two years he has been completely immersed in the ancient city, living on one of its famed hutong in a century-old courtyard home he shares with several families, teaching English at a local elementary school--while all around him "progress" closes in as the neighborhood is methodically destroyed to make way for high-rise buildings, shopping malls, and other symbols of modern, urban life. The city, he shows, has been demolished many times before; however, he writes, "the epitaph for Beijing will read: born 1280, died 2008...what emperors, warlords, Japanese invaders, and Communist planners couldn't eradicate, the market economy can." The Last Days of Old Beijing tells the story of this historic city from the inside out-through the eyes of those whose lives are in the balance: the Widow who takes care of Meyer; his students and fellow teachers, the first-ever description of what goes on in a Chinese public school; the local historian who rallies against the government. The tension of preservation vs. modernization--the question of what, in an ancient civilization, counts as heritage, and what happens when a billion people want to live the way Americans do--suffuse Meyer's story.
Download or read book The Last Days of Old Beijing written by Michael Meyer and published by Walker. This book was released on 2008-06-24 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fascinating, intimate portrait of Beijing through the lens of its oldest neighborhood, facing destruction as the city, and China, relentlessly modernizes. Soon we will be able to say about old Beijing that what emperors, warlords, Japanese invaders, and Communist planners couldn’t eradicate, the market economy has. Nobody has been more aware of this than Michael Meyer. A long-time resident, Meyer has, for the past two years, lived as no other Westerner—in a shared courtyard home in Beijing’s oldest neighborhood, Dazhalan, on one of its famed hutong (lanes). There he volunteers to teach English at the local grade school and immerses himself in the community, recording with affection the life stories of the Widow, who shares his courtyard; coteacher Miss Zhu and student Little Liu; and the migrants Recycler Wang and Soldier Liu; among the many others who, despite great differences in age and profession, make up the fabric of this unique neighborhood. Their bond is rapidly being torn, however, by forced evictions as century-old houses and ways of life are increasingly destroyed to make way for shopping malls, the capital’s first Wal-Mart, high-rise buildings, and widened streets for cars replacing bicycles. Beijing has gone through this cycle many times, as Meyer reveals, but never with the kind of dislocation and overturning of its storied culture now occurring as the city prepares to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. Weaving historical vignettes of Beijing and China over a thousand years through his narrative, Meyer captures the city’s deep past as he illuminates its present. With the kind of insight only someone on the inside can provide, The Last Days of Old Beijing brings this moment and the ebb and flow of daily lives on the other side of the planet into shining focus.
Download or read book Midnight in Peking written by Paul French and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-04-24 with total page 263 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the both the Edgar Award for Best Fact Crime and the CWA Non-Fiction Dagger from the author of City of Devils Chronicling an incredible unsolved murder, Midnight in Peking captures the aftermath of the brutal killing of a British schoolgirl in January 1937. The mutilated body of Pamela Werner was found at the base of the Fox Tower, which, according to local superstition, is home to the maliciously seductive fox spirits. As British detective Dennis and Chinese detective Han investigate, the mystery only deepens and, in a city on the verge of invasion, rumor and superstition run rampant. Based on seven years of research by historian and China expert Paul French, this true-crime thriller presents readers with a rare and unique portrait of the last days of colonial Peking.
Download or read book 14 Days in Beijing written by Chancellor Jackson and published by . This book was released on 2020-03-25 with total page 44 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "F R E E M E" A psalm of my culture. Restrained for 14 days in a country where I am a foreigner. In my native land I felt foreign, but I felt at home simultaneously. Never would I have thought the phrase "F R E E M E" would mean free me. Glad I'm not dead, lest the front of a shirt be my final resting place. Pride stained on my flesh, how I, a cub, have wandered into the Serengeti. A clock on the wall knows my future, freedom in its hands. A second is life, a minute, eternity. "F R E E M E." Peace is my cell, cold, dark, unchanging. Unfamiliar eyes accompany me daily. Twenty four, seven, fifteen, nine, three, one, one. My lucky numbers. Red and blue. Life and substance. Knowledge and power. A trial of the mind to test the resolve of the soul. "Never let a hard time humble us, the marathon continues." (Hussle, 2019).
Download or read book Beijing written by Paul Mooney and published by National Geographic Books. This book was released on 2008 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A popular series of guidebooks for the modern-day traveler offering information on cities and countries around the world continues, presenting up-to-date backgrounds and descriptions, detailed maps, hundreds of photographs, and much more, including walking and driving tours, visitor information directories, and cultural sidebars.
Download or read book Beijing written by Fodor's Travel Publications, Inc and published by Fodors Travel Publications. This book was released on 2007 with total page 282 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents information on accommodations, restaurants, cultural sites, shopping, and nightlife in Beijing.
Download or read book The Rough Guide to Beijing written by Simon Lewis and published by Rough Guides. This book was released on 2004 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This guide to historic city of Beijing brings its highlights to life from the latest hip nightspots to the Forbidden City. There are accounts of all the city's attractions and reliable, practical information on how to get around, where to stay and where to find the best restaurants and bars. The guide also includes detailed accounts of excursions outside the city to historic towns and hikes along the Great Wall. Each district is covered by a thoroughly researched and fully indexed map.
Download or read book City of Heavenly Tranquility written by Jasper Becker and published by eBook Partnership. This book was released on 2015-08-10 with total page 460 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A startling, eye-opening account of a fascinating and decisive moment in Chinese history, packed with evocative stories. Jasper Becker tells the story of why and how China's leaders set about to destroy and rebuild one of the world's greatest cities and how many of the residents tried to stop it and protect their great architectural legacy.
Download or read book Beijing written by Margaret Kelly and published by Fodors Travel Publications. This book was released on 2009 with total page 274 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fodor’s. For Choice Travel Experiences. Fodor’s helps you unleash the possibilities of travel by providing the insightful tools you need to experience the trips you want. Although you’re at the helm, Fodor’s offers the assurance of our expertise, the guarantee of selectivity, and the choice details that truly define a destination. It’s like having a friend in Beijing! •Updated frequently,Fodor’s Beijingprovides the most accurate and up-to-date information available in a guidebook. •Fodor’s Beijingfeatures options for a variety of budgets, interests, and tastes, soyoumake the choices to planyourtrip of a lifetime. •If it’s not worth your time, it’s not in this book. Fodor’s discriminating ratings, including our top tier Fodor’s Choice designations, ensure that you’ll know about the most interesting and enjoyable places in Beijing. •Experience Beijing like a local!Fodor’sBeijingincludes unique photo-features that impart the city’s culture, covering bustling markets, weird and wonderful operas, the vast Forbidden City, memorable Great Wall trips, and much more! •Indispensable, customized trip planning tools include “Top Reasons to Go,” “Word of Mouth” advice from other travelers, and tips to help save money, bypass lines, and avoid common travel pitfalls. •Our crisp, clean maps have even more depth and detail. A pullout city and four-color transit maps make it easier than ever to sail in, out, and around town. Visit Fodors.com for more ideas and information, travel deals, vacation planning tips, reviews and to exchange travel advice with other travelers.
Download or read book Peking Story written by David Kidd and published by Eland Publishing. This book was released on 2008 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A haunting and delicately observed description of the last days of Mandarin culture before the revolution, 'Peking Story' is a testimony to a way of life, a culture, an aesthetic and a civilisation which has since completely disappeared.
Download or read book Beijing Days written by Jon Burris and published by New Phoenix International Llc. This book was released on 2008-01-01 with total page 151 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Beijing and Shanghai written by Emmanuelle Morgen and published by Fodors Travel Publications. This book was released on 2005 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Presents information on accommodations, restaurants, cultural sites, shopping, and nightlife in Beijing and Shanghai.
Download or read book Frommer s Beijing Day by Day written by Jen Lin-Liu and published by Frommer's. This book was released on 2007-11 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These attractively priced, four-color guides offer dozens of neighborhood and thematic tours, complete with hundreds of photos and bulleted maps that lead the way from sight to sight. Day by Days are the only guides that help travelers organize their time to get the most out of a trip. Full-color package at an affordable price Star ratings for all hotels, restaurants, and attractions Foldout front covers with maps and quick-reference information Tear-resistant map in a handy, reclosable plastic wallet Handy pocket-sized trim Features: Beijing's Past, Present & Future, Red Communist Beijing, Beijing for Art Lovers, and more Beijing Day by Day is the perfect answer for travelers who want to know the best places to visit and the best way to see the city. This attractively priced, four-color guide offers dozens of itineraries that show you how to see the best of Beijing in a short time--with bulleted maps that lead the way from sight to sight. Featuring a full range of thematic and neighborhood tours, plus dining, lodging, shopping, nightlife, and practical visitor info, Beijing Day by Day is the only guide that helps travelers organize their time to get the most out of a trip. Inside this book you'll find: Full color throughout with hundreds of photos and dozens of maps Sample one- to three-day itineraries that include Beijing on a Bicycle, The Great Wall, Houhai Lake, and more Star ratings for all hotels, restaurants and attractions that clue readers in on great finds and values Tear-resistant foldout map in a handy, reclosable plastic wallet Foldout front cover, with at-a-glance maps and quick-reference info
Download or read book Let s Go China 5th Edition written by Let's Go Inc. and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2004-12-13 with total page 928 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Completely revised and updated, Let's Go: China is your comprehensive guide to Asia's most exciting destination. Let's Go's forty-five years of travel savvy deliver must-have practical information. This edition boasts more outdoors activities, expanded must-see historical sights, and brand-new coverage of trekking, ethnic villages, and daytrips. An extensive chapter on alternatives to tourism helps you find ways to extend your stay and make a difference, while a phrasebook in Mandarin, Cantonese, Tibetan, and Uighur will help you get there, get around, and get busy, no matter where you may be. So, whether you'd rather chat it up with monks or trek to alpine lakes and glacier-capped peaks, Let's Go's intrepid researchers can lead the way.
Download or read book Beijing Jeep written by Jim Mann and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2018-05-04 with total page 455 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When China opened its doors to the West in the late 1970s, Western businesses jumped at the chance to sell their products to the most populous nation in the world. Boardrooms everywhere buzzed with excitement?a Coke for every citizen, a television for every family, a personal computer for every office. At no other time have the institutions of Western capitalism tried to do business with a communist state to the extent that they did in China under Deng Xiaoping. Yet, over the decade leading up to the bloody events in and around Tiananmen Square, that experiment produced growing disappointment on both sides, and a vision of capturing the world's largest market faded.Picked as one of Fortune Magazine's "75 Smartest Books We Know," this updated version of Beijing Jeep, traces the history of the stormy romance between American business and Chinese communism through the experiences of American Motors and its operation in China, Beijing Jeep, a closely watched joint venture often visited by American politicians and Chinese leaders. Jim Mann explains how some of the world's savviest executives completely misjudged the business climate and recounts how the Chinese, who acquired valuable new technology at virtually no expense to themselves, ultimately outcapitalized the capitalists. And, in a new epilogue, Mann revisits and updates the events which constituted the main issues of the first edition.Elegantly written, brilliantly reported, Beijing Jeep is a cautionary tale about the West's age-old quest to do business in the Middle Kingdom.
Download or read book Top 10 Beijing written by Andrew Humphreys and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2007 with total page 130 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discusses lodging, dining, and entertainment in Beijing, along with information on trip planning, security, and shopping, and includes a guide to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Download or read book DK Eyewitness Travel Guide Beijing and Shanghai written by DK Publishing and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2011-09-01 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: These two fascinating cities reflect different aspects of China - Beijing is the traditional capital, the seat of political power and home to the ancient monuments of Imperial China; Shanghai is both a financial powerhouse and a city at the cutting edge of fashion with an interesting modern history. This DK Eyewitness Travel Guide provides in-depth coverage of these cities, including Beijing's Great Wall and Forbidden City, Shanghai's Bund and the French Concession, as well as the water towns of Suzhou and Hangzhou, graced with serene and timeless gardens and lakes. Explore China's cultural heritage through richly illustrated features - on everything from Beijing Opera to Confucianism, Chinese Gardens, and the Cultural Revolution. Illustrated food features highlight the differing regional cuisines, and resident China experts have provided detailed listings of the best places to stay and eat. Specially devised walking tours take you easily to the heart of these bustling, enigmatic, and ultimately bewitching cities. Over 600 color photographs, maps & illustrations: -The flavors of Beijing and Shanghai - local produce and classic dishes -Cutaways and floor plans of all the major sights -Comprehensive selection of hotels and restaurants -3-D aerial views of Beijing and Shanghai's most interesting districts -Four Great Days Out in Beijing and Shanghai -Full-color Street Finder mapping
