Filled with breathtaking photography, this book captures the visual essence of one of the world's oldest countries, in a region-by-region journey through the splendour and drama of its great past. China is the world's third largest country, and one in four of the world's people live there. Yet for many of us, it remains an isolated and mysterious land. As we get closer to the 2008 Olympics, this book helps you to discover the beauty of China's geography, history and ancient culture, from the snow-capped mountains to the bustling cityscapes of Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and from the ethereal Buddhist monasteries to the massive stone fortifications. This book is part of the Photographic Journey series, which features wonderful photography that allows the reader to discover the beauty and sites of countries or cities around the world. Each book also offers a historical introduction. It includes 164 beautiful full colour photographs, many full-page and double-page spreads.