Going to China? Take The Rough Guide with you

More and more people are discovering China as a tourist destination. In 2006, more than 11 million foreigners came to China for sightseeing and leisure, according to statistics from the China National Tourist Office. It's not really that surprising, considering that China has such a wealth of attractions ranging from the Great Wall in Beijing to the Terracotta Army in Xian to The Bund in Shanghai.

Before you go, though, it's important to learn about the places you plan to visit, whether they're on the well-worn tourist path or newly-discovered. You'd also need to navigate the intricacies of a different culture and language to truly enjoy your stay there. That's where a good guidebook comes in.

From start...

The Rough Guide to China is a comprehensive companion for people planning to visit China. It contains advice that could help you right from the moment you decide that you're going to China. It begins with a concise introduction to China, containing general information about the wonderful culture of this country of 1.3 billion people. The section on "Things not to miss" is especially interesting, considering that it offers the best of China in a nutshell.

Whether the information offered is practical and relevant makes the difference between a good guidebook and a bad one. The editors of The Rough Guide to China, being frequent visitors to China themselves, made sure that information that made it to the pages of the guidebook were precisely those that travelers of every budget are looking for.

Apart from well-written and comprehensive city guides, there are helpful contact information for main transportation systems, government bureaus, even internet cafés for those who travel and blog about it. In some cities, bus, train and flight information to other destinations are given as well.

What's really invaluable about The Rough Guide to China is the language section found towards the end of the book. In addition to the usual "useful words and phrases," The Rough Guide also features a food and drink glossary, which can be pretty handy when you're faced with dishes that do not even closely resemble food from back home.

To finish...

As The Rough Guide points out, you can't see all that China has to offer in one visit. But you can certainly choose well before you leave what places to go and the best way of getting there. The more prepared you are, the less stress you're likely to encounter and the more fun you're likely to have on your trip.

Learn more about the book, please go to gbtimes.

The Rough Guide to China Fourth Edition, by David Leffman, Simon Lewis and Jeremy Atiyah
The Penguin Group, 1272pages