Pagodas, pomeloes and the popcorn man

Brian Eyden, a retired scientist having worked in the British National Health Service, visited China professionally between 2005 and 2011. This book is an account of his travels - the people he met and the sights and sounds he experienced during that time. He describes cities not always on the westerner's itinerary - like Tianjin and Hangzhou - as well as places well known to westerners such as Beijing and Shanghai. Quite apart from describing some of the well known tourist destinations, he conveys a sense of the day-to-day life in China, ranging from urban street-scenes to rural villages, not to mention the extensive and exotic cuisine. He emphasises the extremes in China - for example, modern city life and rural deprivation. Intermingled with his descriptions of China, is an account of three friendships with Chinese professionals which have helped him to appreciate China at a far deeper level than would have been possible had he been little more than a western tourist. The book aims to give a personal and distinctive impression of China, different from the many books already available dealing with this vast, hugely varied and rapidly changing country.