Language students and international travelers are introduced to Mandarin Chinese in the course of this book's "guided tour" of various regions throughout China. Instruction in Mandarin Chinese is presented in words, phrases, and reading passages as follows: First, the passage is printed in Chinese characters. Next, the passage is given phonetic pronunciation, using the Western alphabet (Pinyin). What follows next is a literal, word-for-word English translation of the Chinese. Concluding is an English translation that presents the passage's general sense and intended meaning. Two bilingual audio CDs are enclosed with the book. They present the text's dialogues and teach correct Mandarin pronunciation while also giving students practice in listening comprehension.