Robert P. Weller's richly documented account describes the extraordinary transformations which have taken place
in Chinese and Taiwanese responses to the environment across the twentieth century. Indeed, both places can be
said to have 'discovered' a new concept of nature. The book focuses on nature tourism, anti-pollution movements,
and policy implementation to show how the global spread of western ideas about nature has interacted with Chinese
traditions. Inevitably differences of understanding across groups have caused problems in administering environmental
reforms. They will have to be resolved if the dynamic transformations of the 1980s are to be maintained in the
twenty-first century. In spite of a century of independent political development, a comparison between China and
Taiwan reveals surprising similarities, showing how globalization and shared cultural traditions have outweighed
political differences in shaping their environments. The book will appeal to a broad readership from scholars of
Asia, to environmentalists, and anthropologists.
The first book to explore the cultural impact of changing attitudes to the environment in Asia
A compelling account with insights from the author's personal experiences in the region and interviews with
local people
Interdisciplinary appeal to students of anthropology, human geography, the environment, and Asian studies