Before traveling to China, reading a good book can help you understand the country's history, culture, people, traditions, and changing cities. Books can also introduce you to places and experiences that you may encounter during your journey.
From ancient Chinese traditions and rural communities to modern cities and the Silk Road, these 10 books offer different perspectives on China. Whether you enjoy travel writing, history, memoirs, or fiction, there is something here to inspire your trip.
Wild Swans – Three Generations of Chinese History
Written by Jung Chang, Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China follows three generations of women in the author's family. The story provides a personal perspective on some of the major events that shaped 20th-century China. For travelers who want to understand China's modern history and the experiences of ordinary families, this is an excellent place to start. It can add historical context to your visits to cities, museums, and cultural landmarks.
China in Ten Words – Understanding Modern China
Yu Hua's China in Ten Words uses ten common Chinese words and phrases to explore the country's social changes and the author's personal experiences. The book connects personal stories with China's transformation over several decades. It is a useful choice for travelers who want to look beyond famous tourist attractions and develop a better understanding of contemporary Chinese society.
The Last Days of Old Beijing – Discovering Historic Beijing
Michael Meyer's The Last Days of Old Beijing takes readers into the traditional neighborhoods and disappearing backstreets of Beijing. The book explores how the city changed as modern development transformed its historic areas.
Travelers planning to visit Beijing can read it before exploring places such as the Forbidden City, hutongs, temples, and traditional neighborhoods.
River Town – Life Along the Yangtze River
Peter Hessler's River Town provides a close look at everyday life in a small
Chinese city along the Yangtze River. Through his experiences as a teacher, Hessler introduces readers to local people, communities, and China's changing society.
The book is particularly interesting for travelers who want to experience a side of China beyond major tourist cities.
Country Driving – Exploring Rural China
In Country Driving, Peter Hessler travels through different parts of China while examining the country's rapidly changing roads, villages, towns, and countryside. The book is a good choice for travelers interested in China's rural landscapes and the dramatic changes that have taken place outside its major cities. It can also encourage visitors to explore beyond the usual tourist routes.
Oracle Bones – History, People and Modern China
Oracle Bones by Peter Hessler combines travel writing, history, and personal stories to explore different parts of China. The book looks at the country's ancient past while also focusing on people living through rapid social and economic change.
For travelers, it offers a fascinating perspective on how China's history and modern development exist side by side.
Factory Girls – Inside China's Changing Cities
Leslie T. Chang's Factory Girls focuses on young migrant women working in China's factories and follows their experiences as they move from rural areas toward rapidly developing cities.
The book provides insight into China's enormous manufacturing industry and the lives of people experiencing the country's economic transformation. It is a valuable read for travelers interested in modern Chinese society.
Life and Death in Shanghai – A Personal Story of China's History
Nien Cheng's Life and Death in Shanghai is a powerful memoir about her experiences during the Cultural Revolution. It provides a deeply personal account of life in Shanghai during one of the most difficult periods in modern Chinese history.
Although it is a serious historical memoir, it can help travelers understand the historical background behind many museums, monuments, and cultural sites they may visit in China.
The Good Earth – Rural China Through Fiction
Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth is a classic novel centered on a farming family in rural China. Although it presents China from an earlier historical period, the novel offers readers a memorable literary introduction to rural life, family, agriculture, and traditional society.
It is a good choice for travelers who enjoy fiction and want to imagine a very different China from the modern cities they will see today.
Red Dust – Traveling Through China's Remote Regions
Ma Jian's Red Dust is a travel memoir based on the author's journey through China during the 1980s. The book takes readers away from major cities and into remote landscapes and communities.
For adventurous travelers, it offers inspiration to explore China's less-visited regions and experience the country's enormous geographical and cultural diversity.
Read Before You Travel to China
China is a country with thousands of years of history and enormous cultural and geographical diversity. Reading about it before your trip can help you appreciate the places you visit in a deeper way.
Whether you are planning to explore Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yunnan, or Xinjiang, these books can give you useful cultural and historical context before you arrive. From ancient traditions and rural communities to modern cities and changing landscapes, they offer a richer picture of China beyond the typical travel guide.
A good book may be the first step toward an unforgettable China journey.
