China's economic rise during the past twenty years has been meteoric, as a nation of farmers has been transformed into an industrial superpower. This transformation is reflected in China's capital city, Beijing. The new China faces many challenges, from population and pollution to political reform and human rights. Can its success be sustained, without putting at risk its environment and rich cultural heritage? A high-end geography series that explores some of the fastest-developing countries and cities in the world and assesses how they are dealing with the challenges of the 21st century. Topics looked at include: population structure, the economy, environmental sustainability and the outlook for the future. Each title also features a closer look at an individual city within the country. Richly illustrated with photos, maps, case studies and graphs, this is an ideal read for globally conscious readers aged 11 and up.

Author Biography

Philip Steele is a leading writer of children's non-fiction books. He was born in Surrey, graduated from University College Durham and worked in London publishing houses. He then freelanced as a project manager, publishing consultant and author. He has written a wide range of books for Wayland, Watts, Dorling Kindersley, Kingfisher/Macmillan, Walker Books and many other publishers worldwide. History, biography, lands and peoples, the natural world, current affairs and social issues all feature prominently in his backlist. Philip has backpacked around Africa, Europe, Asia, North America and Australia. For many years he has been settled very happily amidst the mountains, beaches and green fields of North Wales. His wife (as a teacher) and his teenage daughter (as a secondary school pupil) are ideally suited to cast a critical eye over his work!