Is the Chinese government against Lonely Planet on the Taiwan issue?

61 Responses so far | Have Your Say!

David on Formosa | September 2nd, 2006 at 6:25 pm #

I first read about this on Lonely Planet’s Thorntree and I couldn’t believe it. Thanks for the additional information.
fiLi | September 3rd, 2006 at 12:21 am #

Oh, thanks for the Thorntree link, it’s from the same guy and posted yesterday… some interesting responses in there.
I guess the guy really wants his book back
Chris Amico | September 3rd, 2006 at 10:54 pm #

I met three Irish backbackpackers in Xi’an who had this same thing happen. It always seems to be at the Vietnamese border, although maybe that’s just the stories that have come out so far. I flew into Beijing a few weeks ago and didn’t have any problem, so maybe it’s an overland thing. Weird.
Letters from China | September 4th, 2006 at 12:26 am #

Lonely Planet China Confiscated

Dear Lonely Planet China editors, For the sake of your readers, don’t forget to reaffirm the one-China policy in the next edition. (via Peking Duck)
Lone Locust Productions | September 4th, 2006 at 4:36 am #

China is run by 6 year-olds throwing a tantrum

Anyway, what gets me on today�s rant:

Apparently, Chinese authorities are now confiscating Lonely Planet guidebooks at the border because they have a map which shows Taiwan in a different color than China - �implying� that Taiwan and China aren�t th…
China im Blick | September 4th, 2006 at 4:41 am #

Lonely Planet in China verboten

Der beliebte Reisef�hrer Lonely Planet ist in China, vermutlich wegen Abbildungen die Taiwan nicht als Teil Chinas zeigen, verboten. Israelische Touristen mussten mehrfach ihre Ausgabe bei der Einreise abgeben.

�hnliche Regelungen k�nnten auch ander…
Musing under the tenement palm | September 4th, 2006 at 4:55 am #

links for 2006-09-04

fiLi�s world � Is the Chinese government against Lonely Planet on the Taiwan issue?
Confiscating LP for not endorsing One China Policy� are tour books a front in China�s public history warfare?
(tags: china taiwan travel tourism map books)
The Peking Duck | September 4th, 2006 at 4:58 am #

Visiting China? Better hide your copy of Lonely Planet!

Talk about oversensitive. It seems China is confiscating visitors’ copies of the latest Lonely Planet China as they cross the border - and for a damned good reason! In the maps section, maps of China are colored differently than the maps of Taiwan. Ca…
The View from Taiwan | September 4th, 2006 at 5:01 am #

China Confiscating Lonely Planet Guides because of Taiwan Issue

filination reports:

Oooo� there’s a weird story for you. Apparently, some Israeli tourists going to travel in China with the latest Lonely Planet book were asked to hand in their very expensive book at the border-crossing due to its ‘political…
chuck Donovan | September 4th, 2006 at 9:16 am #

that’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard the Chinese Gov’t do yet, and they do a lot of stupid things. Time for the boys in Beijing to grow up and join the rest of us living in the 21st century.
Riding Sun | September 4th, 2006 at 10:08 am #

Why China is not a superpower

From fiLi�s world, based on this Israeli message board post. I found it on Asiapundit, which got it from The View from Taiwan. Truly, the Web is a powerful tool.
AsiaPundit | September 4th, 2006 at 10:09 am #

links for 2006-09-04

�Apparently, some Israeli tourists going to travel in China with the latest Lonely Planet book were asked to hand in their very expensive book at the border-crossing due to its �political nature� showing maps of China which color Taiwan in a different …
Shanghaiist | September 4th, 2006 at 1:33 pm #

Extra! Extra! Lonely Planet, Li Na and WTC

We all know that you can’t buy Lonely Planet China in China, but now are they confiscating the books when people enter the Mainland? Ridiculous. (By the way, if anyone has one of the new books, can you tell us what they said about Shanghaiist? We have…
dustbury.com | September 4th, 2006 at 3:15 pm #

Frustration in Beijing

Poor China. Still upset over that island they want so badly: Apparently, some Israeli tourists going to travel in China with the latest Lonely Planet book were asked to hand…
Nobody's Business | September 5th, 2006 at 2:49 am #

Wrong Color

It may look like a Lonely Planet travel guide to you, but Chinese customs officials recognize illegal propaganda when they see it. They will confiscate your Lonely Planet book; that’s because the map inside shows Taiwan in a different color, and the C…
La Bouilloire Magique | September 5th, 2006 at 2:53 am #

Articles conseill�s du 05-09-2006

Is the Chinese government against Lonely Planet on the Taiwan issue?
Global Voices Online | September 5th, 2006 at 7:25 am #

China, Taiwan (ROC), Travel, International Relations

fiLi�s world reports that some tourists travelling in China with the latest Lonely Planet book were asked to hand in their very expensive book at the border-crossing because the colour of China and Taiwan are different, and therefore political.
Dustin | September 5th, 2006 at 3:24 pm #

And another reason to avoid LP’s guidebooks.
Meine Sache | September 5th, 2006 at 6:52 pm #

不思議な国

アジアネタを取り扱うイスラエルの方のブログで、何とも不思議な話&#12…
Chewbonkers | September 5th, 2006 at 6:53 pm #

Here We Go Again

China’s insecurity about maps - what makes me laugh is the custom officer’s broken English.
huixingの日記 | September 6th, 2006 at 3:22 am #

LP Chinaは中国で禁止されている

ロンリープラネット・チャイナは中国で禁止されている。ロンリープ&#12…
LP Thorn Tree : North-East Asia | September 6th, 2006 at 7:11 pm #

Looks like it’s becoming a more widespread trend

New Lonely planets being confiscated by Chinese immigration.

From what I can tell, this looks like it’s happening mostly at the China/Vietnam border - based on posts here and some quick looks around the internet.

So, hide your books, rip out the…
Josee | September 6th, 2006 at 9:36 pm #

Yawn… what a tall tale. It is amazing how some people can believe everything that is said on the Internet.

Reminds me of my 2nd grade class where a girl claimed that she saw a ghost in the female toilet. Few days later, all the kids claimed that they saw something lurking in the toilet.

Grow up folks!
Josee | September 6th, 2006 at 9:40 pm #

These are just some rumours spread by some anti-china people.
If it is pro-china comments, people will just brush it away as pro-communist propaganda. But if it is anti-china stuff, you can see folks like this on this website licking up every bits of it.

Wahahaha… i am amazed how stupid some people can be. To read and believe without thinking.
J B | September 6th, 2006 at 10:30 pm #

Ha… I had a Chinese friend in college who actually mentioned that he didn;t understand why Taiwan wasn’t in Lonely Planet. I’m not too surprised, though it is of course rather petty.
Does anyone know how they actually come to confiscate the books? Is it only when they’re just lying around, or do they actually do some sort of search?
Shanghaiist | September 7th, 2006 at 7:39 am #

So, can you buy a Lonely Planet China in Shanghai or what?

Meanwhile, people are still talking about Lonely Planets being confiscated when they enter the Mainland, but it doesn’t seem to be widespread. We highly doubt this would happen at any major port of entry like Shanghai.
That's 7 days in Beijing | September 10th, 2006 at 6:26 am #

Things you should know

Finally, although it is for sale in the Bookworm, there have been reports that Chinese customs officials have been confiscating copies of the latest edition of Lonely Planet’s China guide.
Hanenosuke | September 11th, 2006 at 4:18 pm #

I Bought Tea at the Great Wall

According to friends and our Lonely Planet guide (it was old, so it wasn�t banned in China yet), the bus was supposed to take us all the way to the Great Wall,
fiLi’s world » Blog Archive » How to enrage the Chinese people | September 21st, 2006 at 3:09 pm #

[...] Criticize the Chinese government policy, suggesting that it might be wrong or strange. Come to think of it, it might be enough to point to a news item that causes others to criticize the Chinese government ("Is the Chinese government against Lonely Planet on the Taiwan issue?" and "More on China and Lonely Planet"). [...]
shawn | September 23rd, 2006 at 1:41 pm #

Thats why china has missles pointed at Tawian. That’s why taiwan has its own embassies abroad (call it what you want to), thats why tawian has its own customs Thats why china has a problem with it. China is still trying to brain wash their people. China cannot brain wash the whole world. communism doesnt work, thats why taiwan was more successful than the mainland. if the kuomingtang had won the civil war mainland china would be in much better shape and the population wouldnt be so huge and the environment wouldnt be so disgusting.
shawn | September 23rd, 2006 at 1:47 pm #

it happened to me. I was there, on the train, at the chinese customs, getting my book taken. Nanning to Hanoi via train. Chinese customs confiscated my book. I thought he wanted to buy it, and thats the only reason I pulled it out. He was carrying a stack of them and I couldnt believe it either.
shawn | September 23rd, 2006 at 1:49 pm #

I dont think they search, maybe. I thought the man just wanted to buy it, since he was carrying a stack. I wonder what ever happened to my book. Lol. Crazy commies.
shawn | September 23rd, 2006 at 1:54 pm #

Pro china comments? thats all you hear on state run media in china. It’s not a bad thing, until you realize there’s no critizim. Even westerners living in china start to become all pro china. Take a deep breath, breath that fresh chinese air, read up a story on wikipedia (blocked by govt in china), and have your emails read. If you be a good person, you dont have to lie! You cant control a persons soul, no matter how long of a cultural revolution you have. Mao Zedong is responsible for millions of deaths and the poor state the country is currently in. Silly fools.
Toffler's Blog | October 12th, 2006 at 7:23 pm #

Random facts about Shanghai & China

Tonight I was reading some other blogs about China and came across an interesting situation. From fiLi�s blog on Lonely Planet:
Pierrot | November 7th, 2006 at 6:16 pm #

this is the worst bullshit comment ever. You should go and have a look at the chinese “communism”. considering your post, you would definitely feel at home there. You’re just as brainwashed as “1984″ describes. this is sad.
Slate | November 13th, 2006 at 11:08 pm #

China’s “Kingdom of Women”

But the book they really want to ban is the Lonely Planet guide. (Something about a section on Taiwan …) I’m not carrying one, and after a little while, they let me in. Call me a cynic, but someone’s making a killing on the resale of confiscated gu…
Alex | January 3rd, 2007 at 1:03 pm #

My book was also taken when I entered by ferry to ShenZhen (Shekou) from Hong Kong. The officers didn’t tell me the reasons why my book was confiscated… now I know after reading all your comments.
Yi | January 22nd, 2007 at 7:58 pm #

For me, you are very strange also.

Absolutely, it’s reasonable to ban this illegal book.

We don’t care what you do in your country; but we care everyone else’s position about the unfinished war between mainland and Taiwan.

It is natural that your position is near to that of US; but we are not feared…

There is always something in everyone’s heart that should be seen the most holy
fiLi | January 22nd, 2007 at 11:11 pm #

Yeah. I understand this is a sensitive issue, and I find it fascinating to see the differences in perspective between the people commenting here. I’ve tried to not express any opinions about the China-Taiwan politics, and I’m not even sure what the US position is, or why you think that we want you to fear it.

With that said - I do hope the “unfinished war” between mainland and Taiwan will soon be history.
Yi | January 23rd, 2007 at 4:21 pm #

I never say that it is you that make us to fear.

Your country is faraway from China.

But we are very anxious for the existing of ally of US and Japan; Why US placed so many carriers near to our country?

Why US always adds the soldiers in the islands of the west Pacific recently? In our eyes, naturally, it is preparing for the attack to our army! They do want us to fear.

In China, the majority of people don’t want war, including me; I believe some Chinese living in Taiwan too; but if it comes to us, we can’t refuse the responsibilities.

Actually, US has enough advantages facing our army. But, we can’t do nothing when we found the coming threat. In this world, everything is possible;US can attack Iraq, they can attack Afghan, why not us?

From 1951 to 1953, we was fighting with them in Korea; then we faced them in Vitenam. During the war between China and India, their position is against us also.

In 1998, American attacked our diplomatists in Europe. Every year they sent his spy plane to our country.

I can give a long list about the conflicts.

So our premier Mr Wen Jiabao said “we don’t want it but we are not feard”.

As you know, we are facing lots of problems in our reform. Presently those are more important than others problems.

We don’t want any changes in the situation in Taiwan; but somebody wants to challenge our country dignity and unification, we know what we should do.

Maybe you will say that these are some ideas about “cold war”; but I don’t think so.

We are not blind, we found what happened in the past 60 years; we know that we need changes. Surely we know why US did so too!

I have lived in Europe for three years and I will go back to my motherland. I love my country so much; maybe it is not the best, but it is my motherland.
Scott | January 29th, 2007 at 6:53 pm #

The so-called “un-finished war” between China and Taiwan will be finished only when China decides to become a civilized nation and a responsible member of the international community, and stops threatening to invade a peaceful neighbor.

The people here in Taiwan want very much to be able to interact economically, culturally and diplomatically with China.

Unfortunately, China is making this impossible by giving only two options: surrender or invasion.

Do you live in an open, peaceful, civilized and democratic nation? How do you think people in YOUR country would react to such a choice? How will the leaders of YOUR country react if China carries out its threat? Will they say anything at all?
fiLi | January 29th, 2007 at 7:20 pm #

Strange enough, I grew up in a democratic country which is under an even more extreme threat by several entities, mainly originating from Iran, giving Israel two options - it’s either annihilation or complete destruction. Do you live in an open, peaceful, civilized and democratic nation? how do you think people in your country would react to such a threat? … - I understand and relate to your frustration. For many years, not too long ago, Taiwan was threatening to invade China claiming that China was a part of the Republic of China. So… things change, countries mature, but it takes time.
Scott | January 30th, 2007 at 8:27 pm #

Actually, when I first saw your blog, I DID see that you are from Israel but I have to admit that I wasn’t addressing my comments specifically to you, but rather to everyone of the people who had posted a comment. –Scott in Taipei
davesgonechina | February 5th, 2007 at 11:59 am #

“From 1951 to 1953, we was fighting with them in Korea; then we faced them in Vitenam. During the war between China and India, their position is against us also.”

China sent troops to Vietnam to train the Viet Cong, but later China supported Pol Pot while Vietnam allied with Russia on the other side of the Soviet split. That resulted in the Sino-Vietnamese War, wherein China invaded Vietnam only to lose quickly and decisively in a month. I’d also point out the Vietnamese boast of a proud tradition of defeating Chinese invaders.

“Why US placed so many carriers near to our country?”

Partly to maintain a balance of power with China, but the US Navy also maintains the security of shipping lanes in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. A job that China shows little interest in doing for itself, being quite happy to get a free ride from US forces.
BeeWay | February 5th, 2007 at 5:55 pm #

Put it this way, a lot of people is born ignorant or insensitive especially the aspiration and determination of each nation. For China, it’s just simple. Taiwan belongs to China per se, nothing more nothing less. Just for Isrealis, it’s like trying to say Isreal belongs to Palestine, what will their reaction. Happy, clapping hand. Good, show that to the Palestinian
BeeWay | February 5th, 2007 at 5:59 pm #

Some quote that ‘The so-called “un-finished war” between China and Taiwan will be finished only when China decides to become a civilized nation’. I wonder who standard is he refering to. Remember China was the most advance nation in the world then and will be in future. You can keep your uncivilised behaviour to yourself.
More on China and Lonely Planet | fiLi’s world | March 8th, 2007 at 1:59 am #

[...] Story started with Guanyin’s 3 posts in 3 forums (Tapuz’s Israelis in Asia, Tapuz’s Chinese culture and Lonely Planet’s Thorn Tree North-East Asia) which got me started on searching the web for other similar stories which weren’t very hard to find. I already mentioned two stories I found and here are a few more - [...]
Carrie | March 27th, 2007 at 7:52 pm #

Wow. Those are some crazy stories. I lived in China for three years and carried my LP around openly and I never had any problems.

I also had friends who brought contraband books into China and they never had any problems either.

Still, I don’t doubt that it happens. Censorship is still widely practiced in China, from books to email, from websites and other news sources. I think it’s sad that China’s list of contraband goods is getting larger every day, when it should be getting smaller.
Ksyrie | May 4th, 2007 at 8:35 pm #

You hypocrite,IMHO,the taiwan problem is a political complex relating tens of thousands of lives.Every things wrong may cost millions of lives acrossing this strait.You are taking the lives as joke stuff.Disgusting!I donn’t know what is reaction when someone makes funs about the iranian maps showing the erasing of israel in their maps.Keep writng
Texas Resident | May 9th, 2007 at 3:21 am #

I took the Lonely Planet China guidebook into China and didn’t have a problem with customs. I entered via Beijing and was not checked by customs at all. Even in Tibet, I experienced no problems. The country folk and farmers tend to support Mao more. Maybe the people in the rural areas are a more sensitive than people in urban areas.
a.erol | June 6th, 2007 at 2:08 am #

international politics through “lonely” guides? or much ado about nothing on the chinese part?
ceviriservisi | June 12th, 2007 at 11:48 pm #

it’s something that’s been happening for about couple of months or so.
tercüme | June 13th, 2007 at 3:18 am #

I also had friends who brought contraband books into China and they never had any problems either
Beijing Olympic Games 2008 - Blog Archive » Where to buy Lonely Planet in China | October 14th, 2007 at 10:05 pm #

[...] I am such a Google freak I went online to see what the story is. I came across this site which talks about this issue. Perhaps the book is deliberately left off the [...]
fuckchina | November 1st, 2007 at 1:55 am #

most chinks are just brainwashed by the chinese government.. you cannot blame them. it is not their fault. it is just bad luck for them to born in that dictactorial land.
i am a chink too and unfortunately, i was born in this piece of ghetto land.
my army friend told me that the chinese government buried lots of chinese soldiers without going public. why is that? because a lot of chinese soldiers were asked to do flight trials and most of them died in the fighter testing or the military drills.. sigh for them. My friend said that it was lucky to survive because my friends dad is a tycoon here and bribed the military official not to let my friend join those drills or flight testings.wow look at how dark it is here. hahahah some chinks still laugh at the taiwanese dying in those F-16 flight testings??? why not laugh at your own stupid people’s liberty army??
awaken to the reality. suckers… this hypocrital government is just brainwashing you and making you blind in front of the real facts.. you dont wanna accep t this .. i am fine with that, cuz i know you will live in the bubble life. good forrrrrrrrrr you
The Chinese Government Bans Travel Guides About China « BLISSFUL TRAVEL | December 1st, 2007 at 12:31 am #

[...] travellers’ experiences on the issue in Is the Chinese government against Lonely Planet on the Taiwan issue? at the Fili’s world blog. [...]
Gary | February 17th, 2008 at 1:39 pm #

Well it happened to me too just yesterday at the border between China(HeKou) and Vietnam(Sapa). Had to get it replaced for 330Y in Kunming.
bob | May 20th, 2008 at 3:04 am #

I see no wrong for China’s government in doing so. Just think about Jerusalem is painted out of the state of Israel or the New Mexico state is paited different from the other parts of the US.
fiLi | May 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm #

Bob - ?
It’s interesting that you raise that. I, and I believe most israelis, have absolutely no problem whatsoever with whatever travel books writing or painting whatever they want on their book. We would never think about taking away anybody’s books because of our political disagreement with its content.
bob | May 20th, 2008 at 10:52 pm #

well, by saying “no wrong” I mean this may seem like an overreaction, but it is not so unreasonable, especially when they are confronted with the overwhelming western media which rarely speak in favor of the mainland China. The so-called absolute freedom of speech and publication has never been part of eastern values. The Chinese traditional values put more emphasis on collective interests, and on this very topic, to my knowledge, the government of PRC is supported by the majority of Chinese people. You may not agree to it, you may even not understand it, but you have to accept this fact in a country with 1.4 billion population. Incidentally, even in Taiwan you can hardly find in an OFFICIAL map the Taiwan island is painted different to the mainland China.
Joanne | June 10th, 2008 at 1:11 pm #

I was traveling in China for a month (mid-April to mid-May, 2008), and I went everywhere with my Lonely Planet China guide. I checked the book after reading this post and, sure enough, Taiwan is a presented as being outside China.

No one bothered me, and I had that book everywhere I went in China. When I entered and left China, and when I went on domestic flights, the book was in my large handbag or carry-on bag, I don’t remember. I may have even had it in my hand at at times. I guess I just got lucky. Or maybe they stopped caring since this post was written.

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