The River at the Center of the World, Revised: A Journey Up the Yangtze, and Back in Chinese Time
by: Simon Winchester
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Amazon.com Review:
British born author Simon Winchester lived in Hong Kong beforesetting off on a journey up the Chang Jiang or Yangtze River as it is mostoften referred to in the West. In The River at the Center of the World: AJourney Up the Yangtze and Back in Chinese Time, he chronicles hisadventures across China along the 3,964-mile River. Employing nearly everymode of transportation--including boat, train, jeep and shoeleather--Winchester recalls his passionate exploration of the countryside,while providing important and engaging historical information. Hisrecollections of the Chinese people are often less complimentary, as heexudes an air of disgust at the country's apparent disregard for pollution,its awkward modern architecture and decaying historical monuments.
Product Description:
Rising in the mountains of the Tibetan border, the symbolic heart of China pierces 3,900 miles of rugged country before debouching into the oily swells of the East China Sea. Connecting China's heartland cities with the volatile coastal giant, Shanghai, it has also historically connected China to the outside world through its nearly one thousand miles of navigable waters. To travel those waters is to travel back in history, to sense the soul of China, and Simon Winchester takes us along with him as he encounters the essence of China--its history and politics, its geography and climate as well as engage in its culture, and its people in remote and almost inaccessible places. This is travel writing at its best: lively, informative, and thoroughly enchanting.
British born author Simon Winchester lived in Hong Kong beforesetting off on a journey up the Chang Jiang or Yangtze River as it is mostoften referred to in the West. In The River at the Center of the World: AJourney Up the Yangtze and Back in Chinese Time, he chronicles hisadventures across China along the 3,964-mile River. Employing nearly everymode of transportation--including boat, train, jeep and shoeleather--Winchester recalls his passionate exploration of the countryside,while providing important and engaging historical information. Hisrecollections of the Chinese people are often less complimentary, as heexudes an air of disgust at the country's apparent disregard for pollution,its awkward modern architecture and decaying historical monuments.
Product Description:
Rising in the mountains of the Tibetan border, the symbolic heart of China pierces 3,900 miles of rugged country before debouching into the oily swells of the East China Sea. Connecting China's heartland cities with the volatile coastal giant, Shanghai, it has also historically connected China to the outside world through its nearly one thousand miles of navigable waters. To travel those waters is to travel back in history, to sense the soul of China, and Simon Winchester takes us along with him as he encounters the essence of China--its history and politics, its geography and climate as well as engage in its culture, and its people in remote and almost inaccessible places. This is travel writing at its best: lively, informative, and thoroughly enchanting.
Alternate Versions:
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- medium book about a big river
This was a fine book to read on a long flight from the Far East back to Chicago.I did make it to O'Hare, and by that tie had almost made it to the headwaters of the Yangtze.Winchester's book reads easily and was good rice to satisfy my present hunger for books about China--cooked nicely, tasty, and easily digestible. Winchester is a talented writer and a good observer.At times he seemed to be on cruise control, but that is a small matter.I felt like I was along for the ride, and learned ... Read More
Rating: - Fascinating yet dissatisfying
I found this account of a trip up the Yangtze very informative but I was irritated by the way a personal viewpoint was presented by the writer.I wanted a little more distance/objectivity than was provided.I also found it very uneven in the presentation of past events when contrasted to the current experiences of the author.I realise that other readers may prefer this style but for me in lessened the authority of the material presented.
Rating: 
- Winchester falls short on this one
As a great fan of travel writing and of Simon Winchester I've got to give a thumbs down for this book. Not very engaging writing. The concept is great - up a river, back in time, but Winchester doesn't really stick to this method - he does go up a river (although sometimes by boat, sometimes by car, sometimes by short flight), but he doesn't go back in time in a very methodical way. He's all over the place in time and brushes on huge events, like Mao coming to power, in the breadth of a single sentence. ... Read More
Rating: 
- A great Joy
I can think of few experiences better than traveling up the Yangtse (Changjiang) after reading Simon Winchester's terrific book.
Knowing when to look for a brief glimpse of the Pilutan monument (to one of the few Englishmen to have created something good in China--he charted the river)
That was in 1999, a year later my son and I hiked Tiger Leaping Gorge, further inspired by this amazing book
Like so many of his books, Winchester shares a delightful passion through his writing. If anything ... Read More
Rating: - The River at the Center of the World
I read this book just a few days before I departed on a trip to China that was to include a cruise of the Yangtze.The book is a bit dated, but nonetheless I found it to be extremely useful.I especially appreciated the historical side trips that the author associates with stops along the way.The writing is excellent, and reading the book is a pleasure.
- medium book about a big riverThis was a fine book to read on a long flight from the Far East back to Chicago.I did make it to O'Hare, and by that tie had almost made it to the headwaters of the Yangtze.Winchester's book reads easily and was good rice to satisfy my present hunger for books about China--cooked nicely, tasty, and easily digestible. Winchester is a talented writer and a good observer.At times he seemed to be on cruise control, but that is a small matter.I felt like I was along for the ride, and learned ... Read More
- Fascinating yet dissatisfyingI found this account of a trip up the Yangtze very informative but I was irritated by the way a personal viewpoint was presented by the writer.I wanted a little more distance/objectivity than was provided.I also found it very uneven in the presentation of past events when contrasted to the current experiences of the author.I realise that other readers may prefer this style but for me in lessened the authority of the material presented.
- Winchester falls short on this oneAs a great fan of travel writing and of Simon Winchester I've got to give a thumbs down for this book. Not very engaging writing. The concept is great - up a river, back in time, but Winchester doesn't really stick to this method - he does go up a river (although sometimes by boat, sometimes by car, sometimes by short flight), but he doesn't go back in time in a very methodical way. He's all over the place in time and brushes on huge events, like Mao coming to power, in the breadth of a single sentence. ... Read More
- A great JoyI can think of few experiences better than traveling up the Yangtse (Changjiang) after reading Simon Winchester's terrific book.
Knowing when to look for a brief glimpse of the Pilutan monument (to one of the few Englishmen to have created something good in China--he charted the river)
That was in 1999, a year later my son and I hiked Tiger Leaping Gorge, further inspired by this amazing book
Like so many of his books, Winchester shares a delightful passion through his writing. If anything ... Read More
- The River at the Center of the WorldI read this book just a few days before I departed on a trip to China that was to include a cruise of the Yangtze.The book is a bit dated, but nonetheless I found it to be extremely useful.I especially appreciated the historical side trips that the author associates with stops along the way.The writing is excellent, and reading the book is a pleasure.
