Intimate China: The Chinese as I Have Seen Them

A vivid travelogue, this work follows a keen observer as she moves from the bustling riverside wharves of Shanghai to the tranquil rice terraces of the interior. The narrative is interwoven with more than a hundred detailed illustrations that bring bustling market streets, elegant garden parties, and solemn temple rites to life, offering listeners a richly textured sense of place.

The author captures everyday moments—porters loading cargo, scholars debating in lecture halls, and families gathering for tea—while also delving into striking customs such as foot‑binding, religious festivals, and the architecture of ancient tombs. Scenes of river gorges, mountain villages, and modern telegraph offices reveal a China balancing tradition with the early stirrings of modernization.

Through clear, personable prose, the book provides a window onto a vast empire at the turn of the century, highlighting its diverse climates, cultures, and the sheer scale of its population. Listeners gain a nuanced portrait of a nation both familiar and profoundly different from the West.