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.China (Lonely Planet Country Guide)

by: Damian Harper

May 01, 2007
I normally swear by Lonely Planet guidebooks and didn't think twice about buying the China guide. However, I found that some of the practical information (which is normally so reliable in Lonely Planet guides) was thin on the ground as well as sometimes misleading (there was a subway stop on the Beijing map which didn't exist and some of the phone numbers for hostels in Xi'an were incorrect). What disappointed me the most however was that a lot of the sights descriptions /background info have clearly been copied from signs displaying onsite. I found that I had to take a tour guide on several occasions to get a less superficial overview of the place I was visiting. A big disappointment then although basic info is covered and will allow you to ... Read More:
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Used Price: £10.40

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.Beijing (Lonely Planet City Guides)

by: Damian Harper

August 01, 2007
I recently visited Beijing for a 7 day end of holiday stopover.

Although the LP guide highlighted several very interesting sights, too often the maps in the back did not display sufficient detail to enable easy navigation. Lots of places were described, but then not marked on the maps (e.g. the place to catch the boat to the Summer Palace was not on the map).

We wasted a whole morning trying to follow vague directions on how to get to the Great Wall by train and bus - but gave up in the end after being pursued by Great Wall minibus hawkers who refused to be bartered down to sensible prices and went with the offer from our youth hostel.

Not one of the entrance prices quoted in the guide for a main attraction ... Read More:
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Used Price: £6.00

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.Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei (Lonely Planet Country Guide)

by: Damian Harper, Simon Richmond, Marie Cambon

January 01, 2004
As travel guides go, this one combines three very different places... first there's Singapore with its very modern outlook. Then there's Malaysia bridging the vibrant outlook of Kuala Lumpur with the colonial history of Georgetown. Finally there's Brunei which is a whole lot more laid back.

In terms of contents, there's the usual details of history, etiquette, sights etc. There's also the usual combination of excellent maps with only the occassional mistake where a particular landmark has been put on the wrong side of the road. Restaurant and accomodation advice are as usual mixed (many are gone by the time you visit) but it certainly provides good ideas if you are struggling to find somewhere, and also tells you the general area to find ... Read More:
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Used Price: £1.24

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.China (Lonely Planet Country Guide)

by: Damian Harper, Stephen Fallon, Katja Gaskell, Julie Grundvig, Carolyn Heller, Thomas Huhti, Bradley Mayhew, Christopher Pitts, Lonely Planet Publications Ltd

May 01, 2005
I normally swear by Lonely Planet guidebooks and didn't think twice about buying the China guide. However, I found that some of the practical information (which is normally so reliable in Lonely Planet guides) was thin on the ground as well as sometimes misleading (there was a subway stop on the Beijing map which didn't exist and some of the phone numbers for hostels in Xi'an were incorrect). What disappointed me the most however was that a lot of the sights descriptions /background info have clearly been copied from signs displaying onsite. I found that I had to take a tour guide on several occasions to get a less superficial overview of the place I was visiting. A big disappointment then although basic info is covered and will allow you to get from A to B.
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Used Price: £4.49

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.Shanghai (Lonely Planet Encounter)

by: Damian Harper

March 01, 2008
I normally swear by Lonely Planet guidebooks and didn't think twice about buying the China guide. However, I found that some of the practical information (which is normally so reliable in Lonely Planet guides) was thin on the ground as well as sometimes misleading (there was a subway stop on the Beijing map which didn't exist and some of the phone numbers for hostels in Xi'an were incorrect). What disappointed me the most however was that a lot of the sights descriptions /background info have clearly been copied from signs displaying onsite. I found that I had to take a tour guide on several occasions to get a less superficial overview of the place I was visiting. A big disappointment then although basic info is covered and will allow you to get from A to B.
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Used Price: £2.70

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.China (Lonely Planet Country Guide)

by: Robert Storey

August 31, 2002
I normally swear by Lonely Planet guidebooks and didn't think twice about buying the China guide. However, I found that some of the practical information (which is normally so reliable in Lonely Planet guides) was thin on the ground as well as sometimes misleading (there was a subway stop on the Beijing map which didn't exist and some of the phone numbers for hostels in Xi'an were incorrect). What disappointed me the most however was that a lot of the sights descriptions /background info have clearly been copied from signs displaying onsite. I found that I had to take a tour guide on several occasions to get a less superficial overview of the place I was visiting. A big disappointment then although basic info is covered and will allow you to get from A to B.
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Used Price: £0.45

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.Shanghai (Lonely Planet Best of ...)

by: Damian Harper

January 01, 2006
I was on a 48-hour stopover in Shanghai, and this book covered everything I needed to know for a my short stay. If you are staying more than 3 days, get another guidebook. Critisisms? I found the layout of the maps confusing, and it to me it focuses too much on the ex-patriot community to the detriment of the locals.
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Used Price: £6.00

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.China (National Geographic Traveler)

by: Damian Harper

February 12, 2007
This wonderful book has been written truly on the western traveler's point of view, by a western author! As a Chinese reader, or especially Chinese government may feel uncomfortable about some topics like Tibet or communist party. The author is very sensitive to the European colonization history in China, he pays a lot attentions to the concessions, treaty ports, European style buildings, Christian churches, invasions which happened or built during last century and still survives on any resort.

As a Chinese, I have never heard of the mountains of Lushan in Jianxi province ever being a paradise of westerners. The author wrote:

"At the end of the 19th century, Europeans and Americans came in droves to clement Lushan in Jiangxi Province to escape the oppressive ... Read More:
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Used Price: £5.18

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.Lonely Planet: China (Lonely Planet China)

by: Damian Harper, Marie Cambon, Katja Gaskell

2002-11
I normally swear by Lonely Planet guidebooks and didn't think twice about buying the China guide. However, I found that some of the practical information (which is normally so reliable in Lonely Planet guides) was thin on the ground as well as sometimes misleading (there was a subway stop on the Beijing map which didn't exist and some of the phone numbers for hostels in Xi'an were incorrect). What disappointed me the most however was that a lot of the sights descriptions /background info have clearly been copied from signs displaying onsite. I found that I had to take a tour guide on several occasions to get a less superficial overview of the place I was visiting. A big disappointment then although basic info is covered and will allow you to get from A to B.
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Used Price: £15.96

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.Lonely Planet Lo Mejor de Shanghai (Lonely Planet Best Of Shanghai)

by: Damian Harper

September 30, 2006
I normally swear by Lonely Planet guidebooks and didn't think twice about buying the China guide. However, I found that some of the practical information (which is normally so reliable in Lonely Planet guides) was thin on the ground as well as sometimes misleading (there was a subway stop on the Beijing map which didn't exist and some of the phone numbers for hostels in Xi'an were incorrect). What disappointed me the most however was that a lot of the sights descriptions /background info have clearly been copied from signs displaying onsite. I found that I had to take a tour guide on several occasions to get a less superficial overview of the place I was visiting. A big disappointment then although basic info is covered and will allow you to get from A to B.
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