Destination: China
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Top Tens
Top Ten Movies
Some cinematic homework is a sure way to hit the ground running in China. The country's film genres sprawl from energetic Hong Kong wudapian (kung fu), violence and slapstick, through the decadent excesses of the mainland fifth generation to the sombre palate of the sixth generation and beyond.
- Raise the Red Lantern (1991) Director: Zhang Yimou
- Judou (1989) Director: Zhang Yimou
- Chungking Express (1994) Director: Wong Karwai
- City on Fire (1987) Director: Ringo Lam
- In the Mood for Love (2000) Director: Wong Karwai
- Drunken Master 2 (1994) Directors: Lau Karleung, Jackie Chan
- Infernal Affairs (2002) Directors: Lau Waikeung, Mak Siufai
- Beijing Bicycle (2001) Director: Wang Xiaoshuai
- Shaolin Soccer (2001) Director: Stephen Chow
- Farewell My Concubine (1993) Director: Chen Kaige
Top Ten Reads
Getting some paperwork can also gear you up for your China trip, so try some of the following penned by Chinese and non-Chinese authors.
- God's Chinese Son, Jonathan Spence
- The Search for Modern China, Jonathan Spence
- The China Dream: The Elusive Quest for the Greatest Untapped Market on Earth, Joe Studwell
- Foreign Devils on the Silk Road, Peter Hopkirk
- The Chinese, Jasper Becker
- The Tiananmen Papers, Compiled by Zhang Liang; edited by Andrew Nathan and Perry Link
- Soul Mountain, Gao Xingjian
- Red Dust, Ma Jian
- Peking, Juliet Bredon
- The Republic of Wine, Mo Yan
Top Ten Tops
- The Chinese: the world's largest population
- Urumqi : the world's furthest city from the sea
- Nam-tso Lake : the highest lake in the world
- Leshan Grand Buddha: the largest seated Buddha in the world
- Central Escalator , Hong Kong: the world's longest escalator
- Mt Everest: the highest mountain in the world
- Guanyin statue, Puning Temple, Chengde: the world's largest wooden statue
- The Great Wall: the longest fortification in history
- Grand Hyatt, Jinmao Tower: the world's highest hotel above ground level
- Ocean Park, Hong Kong: the world's largest aquarium
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