Riding the Dragon's Back: The Race to Raft the Upper Yangtze

by Richard Bangs, Christian Kallen

Tells of the harrowing and awe-inspiring journey taken by a group of explorers along the rapids of an uncharted section of the Yangtze River and reveals a hitherto unknown part of China

Genres: Travel

260 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1989

About the author

Richard Bangs is a world adventurer, international river explorer, Web pioneer, and award-winning author of over a dozen books and hundreds of magazine articles. He is also founding partner of Mountain Travel Sobek, America's oldest and largest adventure travel firm. He is currently producing and hosting the new PBS series, Richard Bangs Adventures with Purpose. An episode about Quest for the Sublime will air Fall 2008. "

Reviews

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this as a follow up to Simon Winchester's, "The River at the Center of the World", since he recommended it at the end of his book. It's not a great book, hence the two stars, but I learned even more about the Yangtze, southwest China and adventurers.

[Jane Sunshine]

Another great adventure story to read. The challenge: to ride the four thousand mile Yangtze River from its glacial headwater to the China Sea. The three expeditions-two Chineses and one American- waged a dramatic race. Finally, in 1987, the authors of this book successfully navigated the most perilous stretches of the Upper Yangtze.

[WILLIAM ALAN · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yawn!

Hours of painful boredom interrupted by moments of excruciating tedium. Even the most avid adventure seekers will find this book to be a complete waste of time.