With over 1300 pages and 150 maps, the "Rough Guide to China" is the essential handbook to this vast and extraordinary country. In-depth coverage of the entire country, from buzzing Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai to the ethnic minority regions of the southwest and Tibet. The authors give expert practical advice for every budget on where to stay, where to find the best local cuisine and getting round by public transport. There are also invaluable translations into Chinese script of place names, accomodation and restaurants. The guide also gives a detailed background on China's history, politics, cultures and peoples. "Best guidebook" - "Sunday Times". "Historical and cultural erudition combined with down-to-earth practical advice puts this guide streets ahead of the competition" - "Watersone's Books Quarterly".

2007-06-20 Overall good, but not faultless

The guide was accurate and worth carrying around, but the maps were weak; low in detail and with place and street names only in English. This made them limited in usefulness when asking directions as most Chinese people can only read their native language. Cab drivers would just shrug their shoulders when shown a particular point on a map. The guide is also not as culturally savvy as Time Out guides or as to the point as DK travel guides I have used in the past. It's obviously written by early 20 somethings perceiving a place from the outside. My native Chinese friends ridiculed some of the cultural hints as being childish and irrelevant.

Overall I was pleased by this guide, just be aware of its limitations.