The Rough Guide to Southwest China

Book excerpt: The Rough Guide to Southwest China is the essential, full-color guide to China's most compelling region, from tropical rainforest to the snowbound heights of the Tibetan plateau and the mighty Yangzi River. Inside its modern cities you'll find lively restaurants and teahouses, busy streets and trendy bars. Further afield are historic old towns and trade roads, once trodden by merchants, Communist guerillas, third-century warriors, and European plant-hunters. Limestone peaks, caves, waterfalls, and the world's largest sinkholes compete for your attention alongside rare monkeys, birds, and-of course-pandas. Half of China's 56 recognized ethnic groups live in the region, too, including Tibetans, Miao, Dong, Yi, Bai, and Dai, enlivening the countryside with wooden villages, monastery towns, extreme rice terracing exquisite textiles, and exuberant festivals, and visitors can join pilgrims circuiting lamaseries, get a close-up view of monumental Buddhist sculptures, and climb holy mountains. With more than fifty full-color maps, vibrant color photos, honest reviews, and expert background, the Rough Guide is all you need. Originally published in print in 2012. Now available in ePub format.