Lars Ellström, Road to Kashgar: Notes from a Walk Through China.
This was the story of a unique venture. Between March 2009 and November 2011 Swedish China veteran Lars Ellström walked from Beijing to Kashgar in Central Asia, more than 5,000 kilometres through poor villages and newly built boomtowns.
From the account of his trek we got to know the changing landscapes and listened to the people he met: farmers, shepherds, entrepreneurs, drivers, Christians, Muslims, school children, teachers and descendants of Genghis Khan. Thanks to his fluency in Chinese and deep knowledge of China’s history and society, Ellström has been able to put his observations in a wider and often provocative perspectives. The image of China that Ellström presents contrasts with much of today’s superficial reportage.
Lars Ellström has been engaged with China and East Asia for most of his life. As a student, diplomat, banker, financial expert and business consultant he strived to obtain an understanding of life and society in this part of the world. His trek from Beijing to Kashgar represents both a summing-up of experiences and an effort to reach deeper insights.
Lars left China in 2013 and now lives in Sweden on the island of Oaxen