The silk road

by Judy Bonavia

Book Overview

The early trade in silk was carried on against incredible odds by great caravans of merchants and animals traveling over some of the most inhospitable territory on Earth, including searing, waterless... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555212840
• ISBN13: 9781555212841
• Release Date: January 1988
• Publisher: Chartwell Books Inc.
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 1.28 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great tour guide for NW China

Found this book to be right on while touring the more remote areas of China. It was very informative and gave lots of history.

A good introduction to the Silk Road

I have not used this book as a guide to travel yet, but I hope to in about 2 years. Given that I'll say my reservations up front. This travel guide does not give enough detail to really help you comfortably travel in the region. There is little detail about such issues as how to actually get from one place to another; where is the bus station, etc. The information about accomodations is very brief and for one such as I who really depends on travel guides to help me select hotels, this will be of little help. Even more scanty is the information on food, another important topic for me. I usually rate travel guides on the detail they give to food, and this one falls short. Most of the descriptions are the same; "small resturants line the square."If what you are looking for is a good, basic coverage of cultural issues and history, this is a good. . .make that very good. . .book. The photography is excellent and the material covered is informative, comprehensive and well written. I enjoyed reading this book very much and I am passing it along to my potential travel companions. The writers put the history of the Silk Road and the Taklamakan desert in perspective for me so that when I do get there, I'll be better prepared to understand what I see.If you are looking for arm chair travel only, this is an excellent book. The writing is clear and includes all the detail you need to enjoy the experience of the Silk Road. On that basis it should receive 5 stars.