Bei Dao, described by Michael Hofmann as ‘one of the great poets of our time’, has gained international acclaim for his haunting interior poetic landscapes. Now he brings to the essay the elliptical precision of his poetry, combined with a diarist’s openness and humour.

These twenty pieces form a poet’s travelogue – since his exile from China in 1989, Bei Dao has lived in seven countries and visited many others. In his tales and descriptions of cities such as Copenhagen, Durham, Johannesburg, New York, Paris and Prague and in his stories of ordinary Chinese immigrants, as well as of literary, artistic and political figures, his thoughts and anecdotes convey a unique charm and insight.