"I felt nothing but elation when I was reading this exciting collection of scholarly essays, which shows how China was seen under Western eyes in the century that culminated with the founding of the People's Republic. The travelers, men and women, mission

"There are now many courses on travel writing at universities around the world. Both teachers and students will find much to illuminate their field in this collection of essays, not least because China, as itself an empire, poses different questions from

"The critical interest in travel writing is beginning to produce some extremely interesting collections of essays focused on particular areas at particular periods. A Century of Travels in China is among the very best of these collections the thirteen fin

Douglas Kerr is a professor in the School of English at the University of Hong Kong, and has been visiting scholar at Oxford and London universities. Julia Kuehn is an assistant professor in the School of English at the University of Hong Kong.