Magnificent China

Author: Chang Zhenquan et al.
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 1997-08-01
Features: In the mid-13th century, a handsome Western boy traveled through hardships from Venice to the western coast of the Pacific Ocean, the east of Asia—China. His eyes were filled with curiosity and love for this enchanting land. As a guest official, he stayed here for 17 years before returning to his homeland. He wrote the "Travels of Marco Polo," a four-volume, 229-chapter work, which amazed all of Europe, became widely read, and has been passed down through the centuries, weaving the dream of Western friends in the East. It is almost unimaginable for modern people to imagine the difficulties Marco Polo faced when traveling through China in an era without cars, trains, or airplanes, because the country was so vast and the land so expansive. However, modern people can certainly imagine the wonder and amazement Marco Polo felt when facing China. China is a magical country, and on this point, modern people are undoubtedly in agreement with him. The great philosopher Hegel once wrote, "The sun—light—rises from the East," and "China is particularly Eastern," so he believed that world history began in China. Of course, this was just his idea. But China is indeed one of the cradles of humankind and one of the earliest civilizations in the world. With its long history, it has contributed a splendid and brilliant Chinese culture that has played a significant role in advancing the process of human civilization, presenting the world with a series of proud historical treasures. Across China's land, there are countless natural wonders—magical and magnificent landscapes generously bestowed by nature. Ancient Chinese artists created a unique painting style called "Chinese painting," characterized by depicting the relationship between landscapes and figures to express the ancient Chinese concept of "harmony between heaven and humanity," pursuing harmony between humans and nature, and emphasizing the integration of natural and cultural landscapes. In fact, China's landscapes are just such a series of Chinese paintings. The perfect combination of history, culture, and natural scenery forms the unique charm of China's landscapes, giving them extremely high aesthetic value and attracting widespread attention and recognition from the world. Since 1987, 16 natural scenic areas and cultural relics in China have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. These include: the Great Wall, one of the two man-made engineering marvels on Earth that astronauts can see with the naked eye when they reach the moon this century; the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang in Xi'an, hailed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World"; Huangshan Mountain, which combines the "four marvels" of unique pines, strange rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs; and Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area, which left the president of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources feeling "incomparably magical, wonderful, and astonishing," all of which are filled with an indescribable spiritual essence. In fact, across China's beautiful land, there is an endless list of such stunning landscapes. China has traversed a long history and is now on the path to modernization. Especially in the past 20 years of reform and opening-up, China's economy, culture, and society have undergone profound changes, adding a new vitality. These changes can be felt in the emerging modern cityscapes and in the happy and proud smiles of the people in cities and villages here. We believe that our album will fully showcase the magnificent landscapes of China through its exquisite images, leaving a more vivid and intuitive impression on today's Westerners than the words of Marco Polo.