China

The 238 breathtaking color photographs in this oversized volume take us on a visual journey through the greatest splendors of China's varied geography and the chief monuments of its 5,000-year-old civilization. These remarkable images show us the country's most famous landmarks--like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and the terra-cotta army of the First Qin Emperor--as we have never seen them before, and provide us with a spectacular introduction to less familiar but just as fascinating attractions, like the great tulous, or earthen houses, of Fujian Province; the terraced fields of Yuanyang County; and the multicolored travertine lakes of Huanglong Valley. Extended captions at the back of the book provide a concise introduction to the history and significance of each of the forty-four locales depicted, twenty-eight of which have been designated as World Heritage sites.

This beautiful volume is not only a celebration of the natural and cultural wonders that have made China the most popular tourist destination in Asia and one of the four most popular in the world overall; it is also a collector's item in its own right. With its oversize panoramic format, twelve gatefolds, and handsome slipcase, China is a testament to the bookbinder's craft.

Guang Guo is general manager of CYPI Press, a leading Chinese publisher.

Ming Tan is a photographer based in China.