Across China (1986) (edit title/settings)

Members with This Book

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It 1 of 1 members found this review helpful Rated 4 stars “'Across China', by Peter Jenkins. Finished reading 19 May 2008. 4/5 stars. Peter Jenkins made something of a name for himself in the mid-late 1970s by walking the entire length of the United States, and writing two books about his adventures along the way. In 'Across China', Jenkins...” see full review » see other reviews »

Newest Reviews

• 
  • Rated 0 stars

  “Made the story more interesting to have experienced some of the same settings he had.”

  Les wrote this review Thursday, December 22, 2011. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
  
  1 of 1 members found this review helpful

  • Rated 4 stars

  “'Across China', by Peter Jenkins. Finished reading 19 May 2008. 4/5 stars.
  
  Peter Jenkins made something of a name for himself in the mid-late 1970s by walking the entire length of the United States, and writing two books about his adventures along the way. In 'Across China', Jenkins discribes his adventures he shares travelling across portions of China in 1984, this time by bus, train and plane.
  
  What makes Jenkin's books so magical is his approach to travel. He usually has no idea where he is going, no idea how is going to get there, no idea if he has permission to get there. He mostly relies on the kindness of strangers. Jenkins seems to have a gift for making people trust him, and of somehow getting them to open their lives to him.
  
  Jenkins befreinds Tibetian holy men and yak herders, master chefs from Chengdu, herdsmen and wrestlers in Inner Mongolia, and fishermen in Fuzhou. Jenkins avoids the tourist areas that the communist officials seem to be directing him to, and stubbornly insists on mosly rural locations to live with anyone who will take him in. He describes the exotic and bizarre food, and interesting customs and lives of his new Chinese friends with an almost childish sense of fascination.
  
  I am only taking away one star because he drags on a bit toward the end about an Everest climbing team. But this is a small complaint though, since this is a book that I cannot imagine anybody not enjoying.”

  HeIsSailing wrote this review Monday, May 19, 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No