The face of China : Travels in east, north, central and western China

A year spent in Shansi in the early 1890s, followed by an extensive trek through Shantung, Hupeh, Szechwan and Yünnan a decade later, gives this narrative a vivid, on‑the‑ground perspective of a China in transition. The author records a striking shift from wary encounters with locals to warm, often unsolicited hospitality, highlighting how even remote villages have felt the ripple of the “great awakening.” The travelogue balances moments of quiet observation with lively anecdotes, inviting listeners to sense the rhythm of daily life along bustling markets, river barges and newly laid railway lines.

Complemented by more than sixty coloured plates, the work paints a detailed picture of China’s spiritual landscape—from Confucian temples and Buddhist monasteries to Taoist shrines—while also noting the rise of modern schools and universities. Personal sketches of tea houses, mountain passes and village schools bring texture to the written account, making the distant country feel immediate and tactile. Listeners will come away with a richer appreciation for the diversity and humanity that shaped China at the dawn of the twentieth century.