The geography of China : sacred and historic places

With its flourishing metropolises, China has come to be identified with urban life and rapid technological advancement. Yet much of its landscape also boasts communities sustained by wondrous natural resources, which contribute to the scenic and spiritual beauty of the nation as well as its economic productivity. Within these pages, readers are invited to tour China’s cities, villages, and countryside. They’ll visit the natural and manmade landmarks that reveal as much about the history of this vast nation as its geography. China’s status as an emerging superpower has captured the interest and attention of the entire world in recent times. Underlying the politics and economic structures, however, is a rich and deeply textured history of a people whose contributions to science, philosophy, mathematics, the arts, and a host of other subjects date back millennia. The events, ideas, religions, people, and places that have assumed a central place in the Chinese way of life are examined in depth in this comprehensive and far-reaching series. From China’s dynastic past to the post-Mao era, this set surveys the epic transformations that make the country what it is today. Memorable photographs and illustrations accompany the text and transport readers across time and place to experience traditions and locales at the same time unique and not unlike their own. Book cover; title; copyright; contents; introduction; chapter 1 geographic overview; chapter 2 human interactions with china's environment; chapter 3 major chinese physical features; chapter 4 spotlight on china's world heritage sites and other notable locations; chapter 5 beijing; chapter 6 the major cities of northern china; chapter 7 the three great cities of southeastern china; chapter 8 other major cities of southeastern china; chapter 9 the major cities of southern and western china; chapter 10 special administrative regions; chapter 11 selected autonomous regions.