Rob Gifford manages to capture the rapid change and flux--in conflict and concert with the past--that characterizes 21st century China as he travels Route 312 from the metropolis of Shanghai to the remote town of Korgaz, at the border crossing to Kazakhstan. Joining Rob on his "seize the moment" itinerary, the reader is given an intimate "backpack" view of a China and its people that is unforgettable, and in many cases irreconcilable with the image China portrays as a superpower . Through his vivid narration, the sights, sounds, smells, hopes, dreams and shadows of life for "Old Hundred Names" come alive in the consciousness of the reader. It was a transformative read.
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