One question we are often asked by students wishing to learn more about China is, ‘What are the best books to read about China?’

China has a very rich literary tradition dating back thousands of years, making it often difficult for readers to know where to start. To provide an entry point to China’s literature canon, we recommend the following ten books.

These texts are arranged into three groups; Traditional Chinese Literature, Contemporary Literature, and Non-Fiction. The ten books listed in this blog will provide a broad perspective on the history of China, traditional Chinese culture, Chinese philosophy, modern Chinese society, and China’s place on the world stage in the 21st Century.

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://www.dominochinese.com/2021/04/25/best-books-to-learn-about-china-and-chinese-culture/