The first time I bicycled across China I was a young language student. The second time - seven years later - it was my job to discover what had happened to the country.
I learned the story through people I revisited in cities, villages, factories, rice fields, monasteries, board rooms and restaurants from Tibet to Hong Kong.
A Line Across China
"Just seven years between the long gone past and the future already here. It is breath-taking and seductive."
Peter Fröberg Idling, Dagens Nyheter
"An amazing read"
Per Planhammar, Göteborgs Posten
" One of the best travel stories I have read. The author is knowledgeable and has read a lot, the story is well written, thrilling and worthwhile."
Inger Wassenius, Bibliotekstjänst
"The photographic work is completely splendid and it is presented at its best on thick quality paper (...) A work of great craftmanship."
Lena Thomson, Gefle Dagblad
"This is not only a book for the adventurous. It has so many more dimensions."
Qia Rindevall, Journalisten
"A very exciting book"
Malou von Sivers, TV4
"Invaluable"
Amra Hasanov, Folkbladet
" Scored 5 out of 5. Buy it and read it."
Utsidan.se
"Days after reading the book news reported from China feel so much more three dimensional. It is suddenly about people, more than merely Chinese."
Anna Froster, Bohusläningen
"The most exciting book of this year has arrived!"
Ulrika Rudqvist, Travelstart.se
"Marcus Haraldsson's ability to observe is sharp as a knife and he is a great storyteller. He is also an excellent photographer."
Dagbladet
"Very entertaining, with a photographic material that enriches the understanding of this multi faceted country."
FOTO
"A thrilling and lively tale (...) A quick, exciting and fascinating story."
Allt om Resor
Some places had gone from the Middle ages - no roads, no water, no electricity, fire beacons for communication, no knowledge of the outside world - to present day hyper modern life. I thought people would be reflective about the massive change, but mostly they wanted new mobile phones. Except in some places, where they dreamt of a more open world.
The story became a book (2007)
And a touring exhibition (2008)
I gave tv & radio interviews (Swedish)
A sample translation is available here
Some publications are on the Editorial page
Images below were part of the exhibition