Yangtze by Philip Wilkinson
Flowing over 6275 km (3900 miles) from one end of China to the other, the Yangtze is vast, varied, and mysterious, like China itself. It rises in the highlands of Tibet, where glaciers drip and ooze to create a network of icy channels that join to form what the Chinese call simply Chang Jiang, the Long River. From here it snakes and cascades its way through some of the worlds most spectacular scenery precipitous mountains, narrow gorges, and lush lowlands of eastern China, made fertile by the mud spread by the rivers frequent flooding. Yangtze follows the river on this fascinating and varied course. As it does so it explores many aspects of the river that have intrigued Chinese and westerners alike. It looks at the rivers unique wildlife, from the dazzling colours of rhododendrons and camellias on its banks to the endangered creatures, such as the baiji river dolphin, that dwell in or on the banks of its waters. It describes the teeming human activity along the river the fishing, farming, and trade that make it a lifeline and a livelihood for millions. And it looks at the rivers role in some of the turning points in Chinese history, such as the wars of the Three Kingdoms Period, the culture of the Tang dynasty, the Taiping Rebellion, and the Long March of Mao and his communist allies. Finally, Yangtze looks at the changes and challenges affecting the river today. For the Yangtze stands at a turning point. The worlds biggest civil engineering project, the construction of the Three Gorges dam across the river, is nearing completion. Chinas government hopes that the enormous dam will control the rivers floods, open up further reaches to big ships, and generate hydro-electricity. Opponents of the scheme point to the damage to the environment, the human costs, and the enormous risks involved. Beautifully illustrated with outstanding photographs and specially created maps, Yangtze pictures the river at a crucial time in its long and absorbing history.
Wilkinson, Philip: - Philip Wilkinson has written more than 60 books, mainly in the fields of history, architecture, and the arts. His titles include the award-winning Amazing Buildings, A Celebration of the Customs and Rituals of the World, which was endorsed by the United Nations, and the bestselling What the Romans Did For Us, the book of the BBC TV series of the same name. He lives in England and the Czech Republic, and enjoys exploring the old buildings and historical sites of these countries, and giving talks about them.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780563487791 |
| ISBN 10 | 0563487798 |
| Title | Yangtze |
| Author | Philip Wilkinson |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Ebury Publishing |
| Year published | 2005-10-13 |
| Number of pages | 160 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |