Riding the Dragon's Back: The Race to Raft the Upper Yangtze

Tells of the harrowing and awe-inspiring journey taken by a group of explorers along the rapids of an uncharted section of the Yangtze River and reveals a hitherto unknown part of China

YA-- Explorers in any field are persistent, even foolhardy creatures, but the feats they accomplish inspire awe in us lesser mortals. Long ago, the Yangtze River was vividly described in National Geographic, whetting Bangs' appetite to raft this treacherous river "dragon." This pioneering adventure is detailed with trial, disaster, excitement, and success. Interestingly, the underlying theme of the book is self-exploration--basic human behavior in extreme circumstances, learning to work together, to share, and to appreciate a once-in-a-lifetime experience. A fascinating account with great YA appeal.
- Jenni Elliott, Episcopal High School, Bellaire, TX
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau at more than 17,000 feet above sea level, the Yangtze sweeps nearly 4000 miles to the East China Sea near Shanghai. Its source, in a remote and sparsely populated area, was discovered in 1985; few travelers had seen the upper river in one of the last unexplored regions on Earth. Bangs and Kallen, coauthors of Rivergods , wanted to be the first Americans to raft the uncharted "Great Bend" section of the upper Yangtze. They lost out to Ken Warren and his Sino-USA Expedition; in addition, two Chinese groups planned to run the river from its headwaters (altitude 17,660 ft.) to Yibin (797 ft.). In three ill-fated expeditions of 1986 there were six fatalities. The following year, Bangs and Kallen successfully took a team of experienced rafters and well-heeled clients to the river. To their first-rate adventure story, the authors add background material on ethnic groups and early explorers of the region. Photos .
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The third longest river (after the Amazon and Nile), the Yangtze had never been run, or fully explored, until the mid-1980s; even its Tibetan headwaters weren't confirmed until 1985. In 1986 two separate Chinese groups rushed to beat a Chinese-U.S. rafting expedition. A dozen people died and none of the groups was completely successful. The authors led an American group on the "Great Bend," a 300-mile section, in 1987. The result is much more than an account of a "last great first." It is an affectionate, awed portrait of a river and of the lands and peoples through which it passes, largely unknown to the West. It is full of research and recollection, more contemplative than Joe Kane's Running the Amazon (LJ 5/15/89). A finely written tale of exotic places, highly recommended for most libraries.
- Roland Person, Southern Illinois Univ. Lib., Carbondale
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.