FarWestChina Suggested Reading
Every day my RSS Reader is filled with over 100 different blogs or news sources which I keep up with in some way or another. I don’t recommend every one of them, which is why I have the list below. If you have any interest in China – for news or travel – these are the sites you should check out.
Xinjiang Websites
- The New Dominion: (no longer active) Aside from Far West China, The New Dominion is (now was) one of the best places to find thought-provoking commentary on events happening in Xinjiang.
- This is Xinjiang: (no longer active) Not frequently updated, but good writing. One of my favorite parts of this blog are its pictures. Check out their Flickr page.
- Thoughts on the History of Xinjiang: (no longer active) This is one of the best new blogs on Xinjiang, but be warned: it’s not light reading. The articles are well-researched and academic in nature. Also, I have respect for bloggers who put their name and reputation on their work (a rarity in Xinjiang blogging…for good reasons).
- The Opposite End of China: (no longer active) In its heyday this blog was much more popular than mine is now. Still, Michael Manning (the author) focused on very sensitive political topics which I try to shy away from. Searching through his archives can be quite the adventure, I guarantee.
- Autonomous Region: This is a pretty obscure site that isn’t always very relevant but I’m including it here because of the absence of a political slant despite its Uyghur focus.
- Central Asia Traveler: This is the only website on this list that is a static site (meaning it is never updated). Considering how very little that has been written about the southern edge of the Taklamakan Desert, though, I think this is a valuable resource for any person who thinks of traveling there. Includes information on Hotan, Yutian, Ruoqiang, Qiemo, and Minfeng.
China Sites
China Aggregators
- HaoHaoReport: This is a Digg-like community website dedicated to promoting the best stories about China. You’ll find that I’m pretty active here.
- Reddit (China): A part of the Reddit community that deals specifically with China. Interesting and constantly changing.
- China.Alltop: Another automatic aggregator which allows you to pick which feeds you want to view.
China News
- Shanghaiist: the only city-based website I know of that appeals to readers all over China. Also aggregates news and blogs. They post quite often but sometimes feel more like a tabloid than a news source, unfortunately.
- China RealTime Report: great write-ups and links to all the top news stories dealing with China. I’m disappointed they stopped linking up to smaller blogs, though. Now they only mention major news sources.
China Blogs
- The China Observer: business observations from a foreigner who has spent almost a decade in Asia.
- This Ridiculous World: A tongue-in-cheek site which discusses the lighter, most crazy side of living in China.
- Fool’s Mountain: a collaborative blog that has a lively comment section and interesting topics.
- China Mike’s Travel Guide: Best of China guide, travel tips, & funny stuff!
- China Whisper: Some great translations and interesting China-related articles
Travel Blogs
China Travel
- ChinaToday.com: a leading China information base covering all hot topics of China.
- BackpackinChina: a travel site for those wanting to backpack around China
Expat Resources
- Darn Good Digs: user-submitted lodging that is nice AND cheap
Travel Blogs
- Ben’s Backpacking Blog: Ben shares his adventures from all over the world
- Nomadic Matt: Matt teaches the art of travel blogging while exploring every corner of the earth
- FlipNomad: A Filipino explores the beauty of southeast Asia, an interesting new blog
- Global Grasshopper: Tips for travel and inspiration
- Abandon the Cube: Two adventurers quit their jobs and travel the world.
Want to see your link on this page? I’m always open for link swaps as long as it’s related to Xinjiang, China, or travel so please send all requests to josh [at] farwestchina [dot] com. Thanks!