Thousands of years ago, a renegade king gave up his throne follow an extraordinary dream - to develop the beautiful region on the shores of Lake Tai in the wild Chinese south. The legacy of his decision is the culture of the Wu people - whose studiousness and academic diligence spread throughout the region from the city of Wuxi. Now the most prosperous part of modern China, the East Coast centring on Shanghai owes much to Wuxi, and it is there where many great insights can be learned about the grand civilisation of China.

Michael Arnold's book follows the story of Wuxi from its creation to the modern age, bringing to Wuxi's visitors a rare vision of both Wuxi and a new appreciation of the China of today.

Reviews

The Wuxi Legacy is one of those rare treasures for anyone interested in China. But this should come as no surprise, as its author, Michael Arnold, is one of those rare writers who not only has a passion for China and its culture, but also an understanding of what readers will find most enthralling. When these attributes are combined with his polished style the result is a book that is a total pleasure from start to finish. Arnold combines just the right amount of history (never too little, never too much) with warm observations and descriptions of present-day Wuxi in a way that makes the reader want to catch a flight without delay (with his book in hand) to this obviously charming city."

  -- Owen Grant, Narrator & Scripts Editor, China Central Television's Documentary

"Michael Arnold has vividly woven together Wuxi's history, culture, economy and characters of import both past and present. He paints a fascinating picture of a region that is worth taking a much closer look at."                                           

  --Penny Wallace, Columnist,travelchinaguide.com

"Michael Arnold compiles the most comprehensive English language historical account of Wuxi and its cultural heritage into an intriguing story. Following the development from its origins as a forerunner to other Jiangnan water towns to the enviable position it holds today, Arnold weaves an engaging and captivating chronicle. It is a must-read for anyone wishing to expand their knowledge of Wuxi."                                                           

 -- Fred Voelkel, Editor, Wuxilife Magazine

Product Details
Paperback: 160 pages
Publish Date: July 15, 2007
Language: English
ISBN-10: 7502239189
ISBN-13: 978-7502239183
Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces 

Author, Michael Arnold

Michael Arnold is an established columnist and travel writer from Auckland, New Zealand. Since the year 2000, he has been travelling, studying and working in China. He has written extensively on the subject of travel in China and published numerous articles on a wide range of Chinese destinations. His writing has been featured in local travel guides for foreign residents and tourists in China as well as in international magazines and websites. He currently resides in Beijing where he plans to perfect his Mandarin and seek his fortunes.

(China.org.cn December 27, 2007)