☆Dujiangyan: in harmony with nature was successfully launched ☆ < Back to Top >
Dujiangyan: in harmony with nature was successfully launched at a celebration held at Houhai No.5 on April 27th. The authors were joined by the vice mayor of Dujiangyan, members of the press and over a hundred interested guests to enjoy an afternoon of speeches, food & drink and Sichuan entertainment.
Initial readings of the book seemed very positive and Matric are now looking forward to seeing reviews from the Chinese press.

☆ News –Join British-born authors Kit Gillet and Heather Mowbray in a celebration launch of their fabulous new book ☆       < Back to Top >      Recommended  

Join British-born authors Kit Gillet and Heather Mowbray in a celebration launch of their fabulous new book Dujiangyan: in harmony with nature. Part of ‘China Through The Looking Glass’ travel series, this insightful, carefully researched and richly photographed guide is indispensible to any traveller worth some salt. Written by two canny Beijingers who have taken many a trek into China’s lesser-known regions, the book---like its authors---will have you hooked and packed within minutes. Come share the fun….on Sunday, April 27th, 2008, 3-5pm----at Houhai 5 Hao, No.5 Houhai Beiyan. FREE.

☆ News – Sichuan Book Ready for Publication ☆       < Back to Top >

March 2008 – Our long anticipated book on the province of Sichuan will be available in bookshops and on the internet from March 2008. The title is the most ambitious project to date from the ‘China through the Looking Glass’ series, introducing visitors to the amazing culture, cities and landscape of one of China’s most unique provinces.

Authors Scott Lewis and Samantha Wilson have written a beautifully crafted book that will guide tourists around the cities, UNESCO sites, panda reserves and spicy food of the region.

A book launch will be held in Beijing Bookworm in mid-March for those wanting to ask the authors questions, and listen to them describing their favourite aspects of this southern province. More information on this event will be available shortly.

☆ News – Second Editions required for Nanjing and Hangzhou books ☆       < Back to Top >

March 2008 – In little over a year, both our Hangzhou and Nanjing guidebooks from the ‘China through the Looking Glass’ series have sold out there initial print run.

With strong sales figures, and positive feedback from bookstores in both of these cities, the Nanjing and Hangzhou guidebooks will first be updated and then re-released with a larger quantity printed.

The quick sales of both of these titles show the outside interest in these amazing Chinese cities, and the quality of our guidebooks. As our presence in the market continues to grow, and more foreigners become aware of our book series, we hope that updating and reprinting our guidebooks becomes a regular occurrence.

☆ News – Project begins in Zhengzhou – The Cradle of Chinese Civilisation ☆       < Back to Top >

Jan 2008 – Research has begun on a new book in the ‘China through the Looking Glass’ series, centred on China’s most ancient capital. Throughout history, Zhengzhou has been at the forefront of China’s growth, and it was in this city, 3,500 years ago, that Chinese civilisation first began to develop into what visitors can see today.

Matric author Kit Gillet spent over a month in the region, exploring its temples, parks, tombs, and extraordinary culture before embarking on the book project. The Zhengzhou guidebook will feature holy mountains, the Shaolin Temple, emperors’ tombs and the unique flavours of local Henan life.

The book will be published in early April 2008.

☆ Award winning short story writer to publish ‘China through the Looking Glass’ Qingdao book ☆       < Back to Top >

Jan 2008 – Canadian novelist and acclaimed short story writer Royston Tester has joined the team at Beijing Matric and begun work on an in-depth guidebook for the coastal city of Qingdao.

Qingdao has long been a favourite of foreign visitors and expats in China, with its Germany architecture and flavour, and a beautiful coastal climate. Tourists were previously drawn to the city for its annual Beer Festival, but this summer the city will be filled with visitors ready to watch the city host the sailing and water-based competitions for the 2008 Olympics Games.

Writing about the city’s unusual architecture and foods, ancient temples, and Laoshan, one of China’s holiest mountains, Roy’s book will guide tourists through the delights of this beautiful city.

☆ Matric delves into the French-language market ☆       < Back to Top >

Jan 2008 – Following the success of the English-language guide to Hangzhou (soon to be reprinted for its second edition), Beijing Matric has been commissioned to produce a French-language guidebook to the city.

French author Joan-Yves has been chosen to help guide French visitors around this magnificent city; around its many beautiful temples, tea houses and lakeside attractions. Every person born in China knows of the beauty and tranquility of Hangzhou and its many lakes, and thanks to Joan-Yves, French speakers will now be able to join in the appreciation.

The Hangzhou book will hopefully be the first of many books published by Beijing Matric in languages other than English. Spanish, Italian and German guidebooks are also being considered for the near future.

☆ Expansion into Canada ☆       < Back to Top >

Dec 2007 – Following recent expansions within China, Beijing Matric has opened an office in downtown Toronto, Canada. Under the joint management of Myra Quan and Royston Tester, the Toronto office will work towards establishing long term partnerships with distributors and publishers across Canada and the USA.

Book sales have been strong within China, and Matric is now trying to tap into the large foreign market with increased awareness and sales abroad. The Canadian office will be the start of this drive to get our books seen and read throughout the rest of the world.

☆ News – ‘The Wuxi Legacy’ Officially Released ☆       < Back to Top >

May 2007 - Michael Arnold’s book ‘The Wuxi Legacy’ has been released and is now available in various bookshops around China. It can also be bought on amazon.com and other international book distribution companies.

At over 150 pages the guidebook introduces the reader to one of the more hidden gems of Chinese tourism. Lying on the shores of Lake Tai the city has a rich history and a beautiful present. Even with the arrival of the modern world it has retained its charms and remains a simple village of gardens and Chinese waterways.

A book launched will follow shortly to celebrate and officially release the book. The event will give interested parties an opportunity to listen to the author and officials from the city describing their favorite aspects of the place and allow those attending to discover further delights of this rarely visited location.

☆ News – Lhasa Meeting ☆       < Back to Top >

June 2007 - Myra Quan, and other MATRIC representatives met up with the mayor of Lhasa to discuss a book project focusing on the capital city of the Tibet Autonomous Region.

A city that needs little introduction Lhasa has intrigued people from all over the world for centuries. With its previous inaccessibility and its special religious importance the city has kept much of its traditional elements. Monks and pilgrims fill the city’s temples while the surrounding landscape is quite simply out of this world.

Will the growing ease of transport to the region, especially the opening of the Beijing-Lhasa railway, the city is looking forward to a surge in tourism. To aid the foreign tourists visiting the region the proposed book will help them explore the vast cultural and history on offer.

The meeting took the project one step closer, with the possibility of the book being written and released early spring 2008.

☆ News – Meeting to Discuss a Chengdu Book Project ☆       < Back to Top >

Jun 2007 – Meetings were held with government officials from Chengdu to discuss the publication of a book on Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province.

Tracing its history to the first emperor of China and beyond the city has played a key part in shaping China throughout the ages. Here the bronze culture, an indispensable part of ancient Chinese culture, originated, as did the Southern Silk Road and here, thanks to Chengdu’s artisans, the first paper currency was printed. With the nearby Wolong Panda Reserve and mouth watering cuisine the proposed guide will highlight the many reasons why visiting Chengdu is a must for tourists to China.

If successful, work on the book could begin as early as November 2007. Writers will be interviewed and chosen closer to the time.

☆ News – Research Begins on Dujiangyan Book ☆       < Back to Top >

July 2007 – Two foreign writers spent several weeks in Dujiangyan, researching the ninth book in the China Through the Looking Glass series. Kit Gillet and Heather Mowbray, both Beijing based journalists, were able to spend time exploring the city and its surrounding area with the help of the local experts and the Dujiangyan Tourism Board.

What they found was one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. The breathtaking 2,500 year old water project, still performs its job today, played a key role in the first emperor unification of China and then kept Sichuan famine free for the next two millennia. In the calm and serenity of nearby Qingcheng Mountain, Daoism was turned from a simple idea into a religion worshipped throughout the world.

The authors will now spend the next few months working on the book with the aim of releasing the book in November 2007.

☆ News – Sichuan Book Given the Green Light ☆       < Back to Top >

July 2007 – The Sichuan Tourism Bureau have invited Beijing MATRIC to write a book about one of the most beautiful and interesting provinces in China. The book will be the longest title in the series so far and will cover some of the most important sites in southern China.

Boasting four UNESCO World Heritage Sites; Dujiangyan, Juizhaigou, Huang Long Valley (Yellow Dragon Valley) and Mount Emeishan, the province has diverse and inspiring locations. Renowned for its legendary spicy food and as the home of most of the world’s pandas, the province has attracted tourists for generations. This book will help foreign visitors, and expats alike, get the most out of what is one of the most culturally rich places in the world.

The research and writing of the book is schedules to begin in early September.

☆ News – ‘Taiyuan – The Dragon City’ Book Released ☆       < Back to Top >

Aug 2007 – Michael Arnold and Hamish Dewe’s book ‘Taiyuan – The Dragon City’ has been pressed and published. The book aims to guide visitors through some of the wonders of a city that has been the birthplace of kings, emperors and warlords, and for centuries served at the empire’s centre of trade.

Taiyuan is a largely undiscovered city, ‘a rough diamond for travelers in search of a more authentic China’. Its location; near Beijing yet off of the tourist map make it an ideal place to spend some time. While the city was long ago overtaken in importance by Beijing and Shanghai, and while its glory days are well in the past, its rich history is just waiting to be explored.

‘Taiyuan – The Dragon City’ can be purchased from our website, online book distributors and in many bookshops throughout China.

☆ News – Research Begins for Sichuan Book ☆       < Back to Top >

September 2007 - Work begins on the latest book in the China Through the Looking Glass series. The three authors; Scott, Samantha and Lewis, accompanied by press-photographer Mike Dotson, started their research trip to explore the delights and mysteries of the Province of Sichuan.

The book will be published at the end of 2007.

☆ News – Wuxi Legacy Ready for Publication ☆       < Back to Top >

MAY 2007 – Michael Arnold's book The Wuxi Legacy is now approaching publication and is expected to go to press shortly. The seventh volume in the China Through the Looking Glass series, Arnold's book is a highly readable tale of the story of one of China's lesser known but highly influential old water towns.

The manuscript has been described as "an engaging and captivating chronicle"and"a fascinating picture of a region that is worth taking a much closer look at."by various reviewers.

☆ News – Qinghai Meeting ☆       < Back to Top >

MAY 2007 – This month, Myra Quan, manager of MATRIC, is meeting with the provincial government of Qinghai in western China's Xining city this week to negotiate a prospective book contract planned to be produced for the region.

Qinghai is one of China's largest and yet least-known provinces, constituting the regions of Tibet outside of the Himalayas. As most travellers are more familiar with mountainous Tibet in Xizang province, the region has been described as the ‘second Tibet' or ‘Outer Tibet'.

If successful, the book could be produced and published within the second half of 2007.

☆ News – Nanjing Magazine Release Immanent ☆       < Back to Top >

MAY 2007 – The long-awaited publication of Matric's promotional publication for the Nanjing International Plum blossom Festival is due to be released soon.

Written by participants in the Matric-organised event in Nanjing last spring (late February – early March), the magazine is a collection of essays giving various viewpoints and responses on the subject of travelling in the city.

Originally timed to be released in tandem with Roy Kesey's recently published book on Nanjing, the publication has been subject to delays on the government side and is expected to get final approval shortly. Initial design work is complete, although some revision work will be undertaken following the final go-ahead from Nanjing.

Myra would appreciate the assistance of any Beijing writers with a gap in their schedule to assist with proof reading of the final manuscript.

☆ News – Taiyuan Book Enters Design Phase ☆       < Back to Top >

MAY 2007 – Matric's eighth volume in the China through the Looking Glass series, on the subject of the city of Taiyuan, is now entering its design phase. Provisionally entitled Taiyuan: the Dragon City, the manuscript was completed by authors Michael Arnold and Hamish Dewe in early May.

Originally planned for production later this year, the project was prioritised after the announced retirement of the project's backer within the Taiyuan government, tourism department head Ma Zhi. Mr. Ma has been promoting this project since late last year, and is determined to see the publication of the book – the first ever travel guide about Taiyuan to be produced in the English language – before he steps down in June this year. The book will represent Mr. Ma Zhi's legacy to Taiyuan city tourism.

☆Nanjing Launch ☆       < Back to Top >

Matric is pleased to announce the launch of Roy Kesey's new book in the CHINA THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS series – Nanjing: A Cultural and Historical Guide for Travellers – at a special event at the Bookworm Café on Sunday 15th April.

The event featured a presentation from Roy and some words from the Vice-Mayor of the city Chen Gang. Drinks and snacks were kindly provided by the Nanjing Government.

The sixth book in the series, Roy Kesey's volume on Nanjing featured an in-depth analysis of the city both from the perspectives of historical interest and as a modern-day tourist destination.

Roy is an established freelance writer and columnist based in Beijing. This is his second full-length publication.

For more information on the book, please click here.

☆News – Dujiangyan Project Discussed in Shanghai ☆       < Back to Top >

APRIL 2007 – Advanced level discussions were held between Matric and the tourism board of Sichuan province's Dujiangyan city in Shanghai early this month.

Meeting in one of Shanghai's historic hotels, Matric's manager Myra Quan and author Michael Arnold spoke with Mr. Chen Guangjian, director at the Dujiangyan tourism board. Matric has been in discussion with the Dujiangyan board regarding the possible publication of an English language tourism guide for the little-known city for some time now.

According to Myra Quan, the outcome of the meeting was positive and the two parties are now a step closer to agreement. Matric anticipates the settling of a contract shortly.

Dujiangyan is a small city just outside of Sichuan's provincial capital Chengdu. It is most famous for the ancient irrigation project that was built there 2200 years ago, and which is still in operation today. It is said to be the world's oldest and only remaining irrigation project of its kind.

☆ News – Life of Confucius Project – Shandong ☆       < Back to Top >

APRIL 2007 – Discussions are now underway to produce a set of three volumes in the China Through the Looking Glass series for Shandong province, including a new look at the life of Confucius.

Whilst many publications have focussed on the life and teachings of China's most famous sage, as of yet no English-language publication has examined the areas in which he lived from a traveller's perspective. Matric intends to produce a new volume on the life of Confucius that concentrates on the places familiar to him during his lifetime, and review the attractions that exist in those places today of interest to tourists and modern students of his teachings.

The other two volumes in the series would focus on the traditional folk arts of Shandong, and a traveller's guide to Shandong's wild coastline.

☆ News – Nanjing Plum Festival Event ☆       < Back to Top >

MARCH 2007 – Matric's writer's event in Nanjing, timed to coincide with the International Plum Blossom Festival, was held in Nanjing early this month. On the invitation of the Nanjing Tourism Board, Matric escorted around 15 foreign writers resident in Beijing to attend the festival and take a guided tour through the city.

The writers, who were accommodated at Nanjing's first-class Xuanwu Hotel, were treated to a VIP tour through some of Nanjing's major tourist sites.

This was the first writer's event hosted by Matric, and will be followed by many more as Matric continues to promote closer ties between Chinese tourist offices and foreign writers.