This gorgeous National Geographic travel book, filled with copious, useful information and travel tips, guides you to the exquisite sights of Beijing and Shanghai. Among its most popular features are cut-away illustrations of renowned buildings, detailed maps, and sumptuous photographs. Broken into chapters, the guide first takes you to Beijing and such famous attractions as the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and Summer Palace, as well as lesser known sights such as the Muslim Quarter, Baoguo Temple, Military Museum, and Fragrant Hills Park. In Shanghai, among the many interesting places you'll see are the French Concession, the Bund, and the fabulous Shanghai Museum. All sights are prefaced by an elaborate introduction to the history and culture of both cities. Extensive sidebars discuss architecture, temples, the Taiping Rebellion, and more. Guided walking tours include the fascinating hutongs and a stroll from Lotus Mountain to Huangua Cheng along the Great Wall. And a hefty Travelwise section, including hand-picked hotels and restaurants in each city, rounds out all the vital information you'll need to make your trip a success. Completely updated and revised, this new edition includes new experiential sidebars, insider tips from National Geographic experts and others, as well as a useful "charting your trip" section that helps you plot your upcoming trip.

Photographer(s): Paul Mooney