The Chinese version of this book quickly became a bestseller after its release in May 2012. It started with an initial run of 20,000 and is now in a second printing. The New York Review of Books covered the book launch in Beijing.

Bill Porter is one of the most respected authorities on Chinese culture and religion in the West. He has won many awards and grants for his works.

Includes more than 50 B&W photographs taken by the author during his journey.

Porter recently won a Guggenheim grant to write a book about China's 30 most famous poets.

A fan page for Bill Porter on Facebook has 670 likes.

While Porter's work often focuses on religion, especially Taoist and Buddhist texts, Yellow River Odyssey is travel literature without a religious agenda and thus will appeal to armchair travelers of all stripes.

In an interview with the Chinese press, Porter said this journey surprised even him with "how diverse the cultures were along the river. When you hear the word 'Chinese, ' you think of one kind of person. " This book reveals the complexities of modern China.

© 2014 Chin Music Press Inc. (Ebook): 9780988769311

Release date

Ebook: June 9, 2014