Rating: 
Summary: A good review of LP.
Review: I arrived home from China 2 weeks ago after being there for 2 weeks. I visited the most amazing places, and yes, I took the most recent LP with me. Alot of reviewers here have stated the lack of important information in this publication, however, I found this book to be valuble on my journey. China is a tough place to travel, English isnt spoken in most places and the general public (outside of those who deal with tourists often) are not a particularly friendly bunch to westerners. In reading this guide, you must take into account that it ISNT a tour guide, it is simply a reference to sites and popular places. I found the Chinese text to be very helpful when using taxi's. China is an ever changing place, and if you have ever been there, you will know how vast it really is. A mecca of laneways and confusing streets. LP was an invaluble read for me and I would recommend this guide for those who are imbarking on thier first trip to this wonderful place.
As a well travelled person, I have used LP many times in different places, I think some people forget to step outside the book and just find things on their own will...
Rating:
Summary: Organized...Informative...More Bang for your Buck!
Review: I don't know what else to say...I love Lonely Planet Guidebooks. Aside from the fact that they are better looking than other guidebooks, they are also organized in a much more coherant fashion. This LP 'China' edition is much better than say 'Fodor's China' because of certain sections that help you to achieve a much more enjoyable experience. One section will help you plan a hike the remote Simatai section of the Great Wall, another fully explains Yangze river cruises, another exploring the hutongs in Beijing by bike. So fat and satisfying...you won't mind lugging it around at all. Buy it and go to China and spill Sichuan sauce all over it.
Rating:
Summary: You Must Have This Book If You Go To China!
Review: I first travelled to China in 1998 and brought with me the then current edition of the Lonely Planet. My review of it is here somewhere. Despite being on a guided and highly structured tour, I found the guide absolutely indespensible and I used it constantly before and during my trip.China has changed so much in just two years. The change is even more evident in the major touristy type cities such as Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai. Fortunately, as China changes so does the Lonely Planet guide. And fortunately, the guide is just as good as ever. I enjoyed the LP China book for two reasons. First off, the background information is so awesome for preperation for a trip to China. China is a great trip, but at times it is not an easy trip. However, the guide does a good job of letting you know ahead of time what wonders, amazments, and frustrations may lie ahead. Once in China the book is awesome on where to go, the background and history of where you are, and how to get there. The maps and train times are oh so important. China is a great and challenging trip. To do it right you need to be ready for it before and while there. Simply put, the LP book is the best way to get ready for a big trip to China. This book never left my side during two trips to China. This book is worth every penny it costs.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't be fooled. This is just the 7th edition
Review: I had been anticipating the release of LP¡¯s China 8th edition hoping it would fix the errors in the 7th edition and fill out the areas that were weak in the 7th edition. Guess what, there is NOTHING new in the 8th edition. The same errors from the 7th edition have been reproduced in full even though anyone who has spent more then a month in China in the last five years will know how laughably inaccurate the book is in places. It¡¯s still an OK guide but it¡¯s terribly out of date and it is not only misleading but dishonest for them to call this an 8th edition. It is nothing more then a rerun of a previous edition.
Rating: 
Summary: Full of inaccuracies, sloppy, not worth buying
Review: I have always had a very good impression with Lonely Planet travel guidebooks. However, this guide really changes my mind. It is the worst LP guide book that I have ever read. It is full of inaccuracies and is sloppily-written. There are just too many mistakes littering around the book. Those sections of the book that deal with the Chinese history are particularly poorly-written, showing the authors' severe lack of research in the subject. Throughout the book, the authors also show a total lack of respect and understanding for the local population and culture. The 1-star rating I give is due to the large quantity of maps available in the book.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing installment from LP
Review: I have used Lonely Planet guides since 1996 to help me travel to nearly 30 countries and until now, I found them the best resource available for getting off the beaten tourist-track. Unfortunately, this edition of LP China disappoints. I like the logistical information (I give an extra star for that), but I am really dismayed at the emphasis given to popular spots, "backpacker meccas", places "beloved by backpackers", "a good place to 'kick back'", etc. It even goes as far as to show contempt for people looking for the "'real China'". I think I will look for another title, and if there is not a better one out there then I will write my own. As LP is alienating their core market here, maybe a new opportunity opens for new writers...
Rating: 
Summary: Consider National Geographic Traveler
Review: I received a copy of the Lonely Planet China as a gift. I am neutral about the book. Good general information. However...China is so dynamic and changing...it doesn't ring true in many cases.
I would suggest the National Geographic Traveler China guide. It is very well balanced...gives excellent background...so the traveler can interpret and experience the wonders of China through high quality text, pictures and maps.
I would still suggest the Lonely Planet guide for those that have not travelled much...and a starting point. But those that have past international travel experience will find it much too basic and generic. Nat'l Geographic will provide a comprehensive pretrip planning guide so you can best tailor your trip and will enhance your experience while visting.
Another factoid side note. The author of National Geographic Traveler China (Damian Harper) co-authored several guides of China, Beijing, and Hong Kong for Lonely Planet. To validate...click the D. Harper's name near the book title above. Same author...but with the quality of National Geographic.
Rating:
Summary: Poor Effort
Review: I recently traveled for ten weeks in mainland China using LP's China guidebook. I have used the Lonely Planet series for over thirty countries and find them to be among the best if not the best of all the guidebooks out there. This edition falls short. Way short! I sometimes wondered if I was in the same city the guidebook was describing. For example, LP calls Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan Province, a "budget traveler's paradise" and then goes on to mention three places in a city of over 9 million people. In Hangzhou, their first recommendation is a vacant lot and has been for a year. Second pick is a restaurant.I began to really wander if anyone actually "traveled" these places to update them or just sat around in Yunnan Province,a drank beer and depended on other travelers for information. The bood has many good points. The maps are good. The transportation info is still fairly accurate and the use of Chinese characters is extremely helpful. It is not impossible to use the latest edition as your only guide. It is just that you had better have some well-developed travel skills before venturing into China and hoping this book will save you. It won't.
Rating:
Summary: A whole new world
Review: I think that if you're thinking to go to China, you need a travel guide, and this is the best.
Very easy to handle, with a lot of tips that you need to travel safetly.
Thousands of places to stay, from backpacker's meccas and secluded monasteries to Shangai's swanky suites.
The Lonely Planet Guides are always the best choice.
Rating:
Summary: Very Useful
Review: I used this book when traveling alone in China twice. The cultural descriptions of China's many and diverse regions were helpful, accurate and hardly suffused with glamor. More importantly, the nuts and bolts travel information such as hotels, railroads, airlines, regulations, etc. was right on the mark. A word of warning, if you're spending time in Kunming, some of the streets and restaurants referenced in this book no longer exist because of the massive construction effort there.
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