The Lake of a Thousand Islands is one of China's best kept secrets.
A new lake by Chinese standards, this beautiful reservoir of
islands and blue waterways was created by the damming of the Xin'an
River in 1959. The pristine waters and green forests of the lake
are the result of careful conservation, and in 2004 the Lake of a
Thousand Islands gained the gold laurel for a B-type city at the
Eighth International Park City Awards?-- the only winner in
the entire southeast Asia region. These days, the Lake of a
Thousand Islands is a model Chinese lakeside resort; a forerunner
in the emerging leisure tourism and recreation industries.
Monique Van Dijk's book is the first English language
publication to delve exclusively into this new region, one of
China's most recently emerged natural tourist attractions.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The local people that I befriended during the writing of this
book would often ask me what I liked most about the Lake of a
Thousands Islands. I was always at a loss as to how to answer their
question -- how could I explain in my limited Chinese something
that I could barely describe in English? Because the thing that I
like the most about the Lake of a Thousand Islands is not something
tangible, such as the jade green islets or beautiful resorts, but
something more elusive -- the feeling that the waters of the lake
evoke. The feeling as you glide through the mist across iridescent
waters; as you dive off golden rocks for a refreshing dip on a hot
day; as you drift lazily across the reservoir beneath the setting
sun; and at the end of the day as you look out across an endless
stretch of dark water beneath a moonlit sky. It is the feeling that
it doesn't matter whether I am in New Zealand or China, as long as
there is clear water and blue sky I am home.
Product Details
Paperback: 144 pages
Publish Date: August 1, 2005
Language: English
ISBN-10: 7502234950
ISBN-13: 978-7502234959
Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 7.3 x 0.3 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
Monique Van Dijk
Monique Van Dijk first travelled around China at the age of 16,
and her life has been irrevocably entwined with this fascinating
country ever since. In 2002, she received a post-graduate
scholarship from the Chinese government to pursue advanced studies
at Beijing's top Language and Culture University. After completing
her Masters degree in Creative Arts back in her native New Zealand,
Monique decided to permanently relocate to China and forge a career
from her passion for writing, travelling, filmmaking, and all
things Chinese in between her travels around China. Her articles
have been published both in China and abroad.
(China.org.cn December 27, 2007)
