Buying a LP China in Beijing?

Replies: 12 - Last Post: 28-Jul-2007 06:33 Last Post By: everbrite

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Laros

28-Jun-2007 03:17
Posts: 79

Buying a LP China in Beijing?

Maybe a silly question, but I'm travelling overland from Russia via Mongolia into China and because I travel light I hope I can buy a LP China in Beijing. Is it possible to buy LP in China? Heard a not so good story that the LP China is banned in China because of some critical words in the book.

Is this correct or is it just humbug and is the LP China normally available?

Thanks in advance,

Laros "Guess I'm not a traveler, just want to find out where the sun comes from"

maybetomorrow333

28-Jun-2007 04:38
Posts: 37

Yes, I was at the Beijing Foreign Language Bookstore on Wangfujing (it's a street, also a subway stop), and I definitely saw many Lonely planets (except, of course, the book on Tibet).

I believe most foreign language book stores in China's major cities carry lonely planet, not just on China but just about every country possible.

Paranoia_Salesman

28-Jun-2007 08:49
Posts: 89

I'd disagree with#1 - I was in China in April and although I didn't really need one, I looked in bookshops in Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Chengdu, Beijing (including the one on Wangfujing) and did not see a single copy of the China Lonely Planet. True they had guides for pretty much every other country, but NOT China. I did see a very small shop in Beijing with a sign saying they sold it, but it wasn't a bookshop (it was one of those near the Lama Temple that sell incense etc). Although I would say that a guidebook really isn't necessary - it's definitely easy enough to get round without one (and I'm not one of those never-use-a-book types, I do usually carry one).

"There must be diamonds somewhere in a place that stinks this bad" - The Mountain Goats

squidstrips

28-Jun-2007 10:49
Posts: 697

I'll have to disagree with #1 as well. I was in that bookstore about a month ago. While they do have lots of LP, they do not have a LP China. I also tried the other bookstore on Wnagfujing and it doesn't have LP China either. I've never seen a LP China for sale in China.

OP, I hate carrying around the China brick. It make sup 20% of my backpack weight. I travel light. I keep asking LP in the Pick and Mix forum when they will have the digital edition available. They have a bunch for Central/South America. Maybe if more people pester them, they'll do it for China as well.

Shiela

28-Jun-2007 12:23
Posts: 57

Also disagree with #1.

Was studying in Beijing for 5 months and also tried foreign bookshop in Wanfujing and several bookshops in Wudakou and other univeristy locations. Neither the LP or Rough Guide for China were on sale. (But, you can get a sensored one for Beijing.) When I asked I was told that they hadn't had English versions for some time - a stock/publishers problem.

Alternatively - if you read Chinese - the bookstore in Wudakou stock the Chinese language LP on China.

In the end, I had a friend bring an English one over from the UK.

RTW TRIP 2006/7: Peru-USA-Mexico-Guatemala-Belize-China-India-Thailand-Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia-Malaysia-Singapore-Trans Mongolian (Mongolia & Russia)...

ellyse

28-Jun-2007 13:51
Posts: 8,932

Garden Books in Shanghai definitely has the LP China, but last I checked it was still the 9th edition (2005).
Cheers!

Count_Zero

28-Jun-2007 19:33
Posts: 5,335

I don't think the foreign language bookstore on Wangfujing has ever stocked LP China. There are a few state-run places which stock LP books but, to my knowledge, never the book on China.

Usually the Beijing Bookworm stocks the LP China but in fact, I went there yesterday and they only had a single older version on the shelves - has the ban become more strict?

I'll probably go there again today or tomorrow and ask about that.

Harry_Mudd

28-Jun-2007 23:56
Posts: 4,094

they may have LP's but not the China one. never found one in 3 years in Beijing.

"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It's jolted by every pebble on the road" - Henry Ward Beecher

Nihaoaussie

30-Jun-2007 06:24
Posts: 289

Has anyone checked the shelves at the Bookworm? they have plenty of LP, but since I din't need it, I haven't looked for the China one.

Cheers, Paul.

jiejie

01-Jul-2007 01:27
Posts: 1,148

In 6 years of living in Beijing, I have NEVER seen an LP China of any edition for sale in a retail bookstore. And I make it a point of looking every time I go in one! I don't believe for a minute it is a stocking/publisher problem, as every other place around Asia has LP Chinas. I truly believe they are banned, as all import publications have to go through a central gov't clearinghouse agency before they can go through distribution and hit the shelves. The bookstore mentioned by #5 is the only confirmed sighting I've ever heard of, outside of backpacker bars/cafes and expat "libraries" like the Beijing Bookworm--makes me wonder just what sort of "pull" that proprietor has in Shanghai!

Laros

05-Jul-2007 02:59
Posts: 79

Thanks for all your reply,

do you think I can get a LP China (latest edition) in UB?

Thanx,

Laros "Guess I'm not a traveler, just want to find out where the sun comes from"

ellyse

27-Jul-2007 20:56
Posts: 8,932

Probably not much help to you, but I've seen LP China for sale in Shanghai.
Cheers!

everbrite

28-Jul-2007 06:33
Posts: 16,254

I would not count on being able to get the latest edition of LP in UB.

If you really want it, have it sent to yourself at Poste Restante to the Central Post Office in Beijing or to a guest house/hostel. Chinese post is safe and efficient.

Ruth

First check: Everbrite's travel pages, the New RU sticky,and New RU train sticky

Since I have taken the time to answer your question, it would be nice if you took the time to respond as to whether the information was helpful.

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