The magnificent wonders of China ancient and modern revealed by an international team of leading scholars from Asia and the West. China is the oldest continuous civilization on earth and holds a unique global place in the 21st century this books uniquely wide focus shows what makes it such a special country with topics stretching from the natural wonders including mountains and rivers to the Silk Road the technological innovations of printing and the compass and the modern vibrant cities of today as well as famous monuments such as the Forbidden City in Beijing and the Great Wall. In this new and updated edition a team of leading scholars from Asia and the West provide an unmatched account of this vast country.