Northwest Journey

Author: Gao Liangzuo / Lei Enhai / Jiang Zhaohui (edited and annotated)
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2003-08-01
Features: "Travel Notes from the Northwest," refers to the records left by individuals from various historical periods who traveled to the Northwest region of China for missions, explorations, travels, or postings. These records cover the economy, politics, culture, military, folklore, astronomy, geography, mountains, rivers, and local products of the Northwest in different eras, providing a multi-faceted reflection of the region's natural and social landscapes. They are extremely valuable historical materials for understanding the social, cultural, and historical aspects of the Northwest.
Since these are personal works, the accounts are based on the authors' firsthand experiences and observations, making them highly authentic. Additionally, due to their hybrid nature of history and literature, they blend historical insights with the authors' literary sensibilities. The records combine historical research with descriptive writing, capturing scenes spontaneously with free-form expressions, often vivid and lively in language, enhancing readability. They represent a significant creative achievement by ancient scholars in bridging history and literature, embodying a dynamic and vibrant literary form!
"Selected and Collected Travel Notes from the Northwest" is compiled based on these considerations, selecting and compiling 37 renowned works from the vast collection of travel notes to the Northwest. The collection is divided into 20 volumes, with Volume 1 comprising 10 volumes containing 25 works, and Volume 2 comprising 10 volumes with 12 works. The time span covers from 1805 to the period of the Anti-Japanese War, encompassing 200 years of the Northwest region (including Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Shaanxi, and surrounding provinces). The content details the road networks, climate, local products, urban and rural landscapes, folk customs, political changes, religious and ethnic relations, as well as the development of economy, culture, and education in the Northwest. It is hoped that this collection can provide readers interested in Northwest development and the modernization process of China with a unique and micro-perspective window into the ancient and modern Northwest.