Western books about China before 1949

This collection of travel reports and geographical and cultural accounts by Western writers about China provides a partial yet varied reflection of the gradual process of cultural exchange between China and the West since the 16th century. It starts with the original editions of the seminal works by Linschoten and Nieuhoff about the opening of commercial routes between Northern Europe and China and culminates with representative contributions by academics, missionaries, explorers, bureaucrats and journalists about the diverse features of nineteenth century China.