A new Chinese release about Madagascar more than a travel guide

Madagascar: Dream Island at the End of the World was released by Chongqing Publishing House in February.[Photo provided to China Daily]

A long time ago, after an island had separated from a vast landmass, its plants and animals grew in relative isolation.

As a result, much of Madagascar's flora and fauna are rarely found elsewhere, making the world's fourth-largest island the perfect destination for travelers seeking to see nature in all its diversity.

The country gained global popularity, including in China, after Hollywood released the 2005 animated film, Madagascar.

Cheng Yuanyuan, from Beijing MooNbooks Co, is among the many Chinese who are attracted to the island located in the Indian Ocean off the African coast.

A fan of King Ringtail Julien XIII, the film's lemur character, Cheng thought about publishing a book about the island. But scarce material on the subject in China posed challenges for the project at the time.

A book has been released, since Cheng's team partnered with Yang Min, a former Chinese ambassador to Madagascar.

Madagascar: Dream Island at the End of the World was released by Chongqing Publishing House in February. The publisher called it the first such book about the country.

"Take the book and an air ticket, and you can start to explore the great island," says a statement from the publisher.