Jeff J. Brown is an American writer and author who backpacked through rural China.
In his book, 44 Days Backpacking in China, he shares his personal experiences and encounters during his expedition across various provinces, including food, history, culture, politics and myths.
It’s a beautiful story.
Within this travelogue, Jeff captures the quintessence of China’s bustling cities and serene panoramas. (In the late 1970s, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, China began a series of economic reforms leading to a market-oriented economy while maintaining a one-party rule.)
From the vibrance of Beijing to the magnificence of the Great Wall, he paints an intricate tableau of his journey.
As a reminder, China is the fourth largest country in the world by area after Russia, Canada, and the United States. It’s located in Eastern Asia and borders 14 countries, which is more than any other country in the world.
It has a recorded history that dates back over 4,000 years, making it one of the world’s oldest civilisations, starting with the Xia dynasty around 2100 BC.
Here’s the important part.
Transcending the confines of a conventional travel narrative, the book kind of serves as a cultural bridge between the East and the West.
Currently, there is incredible animosity towards China, from Western media and governments, including relentless propaganda campaigns and fabricated news articles.
The United States views China as a global threat and appears to be prodding and poking in the hope of triggering another proxy war (akin to the one in Ukraine).
Jeff is a great storyteller.
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