Across China on Foot

by Edwin John Dingle, Graham Earnshaw (Foreword)

This book, first published in 1911, is one of the most important and best written travel books from old China. Edwin Dingle recounts his adventures as he travels up the Yangtze River from Shanghai and then by foot southwest across some of China's most wild and woolly territory to Burma. Along the way, Dingle absorbed an enormous amount of about life and society in southwest China, and describes what he sees in a readable and sensitive way.

Genres: China, Travel, History, Nonfiction, Adventure

476 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2004

About the author

1881-1972

Reviews

[Qiong · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of the book looked really interesting. I am not saying that I am disappointed. I think that would be very unfair to the author, because we have to keep in mind that it was written almost 110 years ago, and that makes it certainly no backpacker's exciting hippie story.

It is just, an honest account of what the author had seen and done. I read some of the reviews which criticized that the author did not really "walk" across China, but what does it matter, really? Again, it is impossible to walk across China when it was 110 years ago, especially if you hardly spoke the language.

I have always been interested in Chinese modern history, and books like this give me a fresh point of view to look at what I have learnt at school. They are not always good. Some are skewed. Some are arrogant. Some are narrow-minded. But that's okay. That shows just how I need to look at everything to get a more comprehensive view of what it was really like.

For that purpose alone, this one has undoubtedly served.

It is not a particularly interesting read, but I enjoyed it! And I have to catch up to finish the book challenge before the year ends. :(

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's enlightening and interesting to read various accounts of travel in China. Each author emphasizes different things. What strikes me most in Mr. Dingle's book is the squalor and poverty of the inhabitants of western Yunnan province at the close of the 19th century. Apparently the destruction caused by famine, uprisings, and cultural inertia led to the descent into near sub-human existence for many people of that place and time. Yet Mr. Dingle found much to praise in the Chinese people and in the various tribes he encountered. They were mostly honest with him and very hard-working. He also found them cheerful despite the bleakness of their existence.

[Annette · Rating 1 out of 5]

i wanted to like this book. Its a subject that interests me. But frankly his description of his travels were a bit tedious and one dimensional.

[Neil Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't finish. Didn't find it too engaging. I preferred a book called 'An Australian in China'

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting read about an Englishman’s travels through China while on foot --- his impressions, the culture, the behavior on his part and the Chinese – the descriptions of the areas. Many of the treatments he saw we would consider in humane but, if you had to live like these people did, we probably wouldn't be much better! Made me thankful I was born in America!

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

fascinating...

[Isham Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A British eccentric insists on walking across China despite all efforts by locals to put him in a palanquin.

[Echo XIE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some reflections are interesting but the book in general is boring.
The book is important to the writer, but I didn't see why it's important to me.

[Jobi George · Rating 3 out of 5]

(a comment, not review)
A great expanse of view but taking it all in and make it to the last page is really an effort, a million mile walk, literally. It took really a long while before I finished reading it, few times I threw it aside though.

[Katherine Schumm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Do not believe this would be interesting general reading due to the age and time period written. I am doing research on China early 1900's so it provided details which are hard to find about daily life and conditions. Very interesting because it occurs in the period I am writing about.

[Sue]

Didn't get too far into this before I had to return it to the library. Maybe someday I'll try it again.