The Contemporary China Series includes eight books, based on distinct Chinese values, reveals how China promotes coordinated economic, political, cultural, social and ecological advancement. The series comprehensively introduces the basic situation of contemporary China and the development path of socialism with Chinese characteristics.
A Glimpse of China, focusing on the basic circumstances of China, offers an overview of the formation history of China as a multi-ethnic nation and the evolution of Chinese civilization. It traces the path of struggle and development in China since modern times, the journey from the founding of the People’s Republic of China to the era of reform and opening-up, the historical achievements of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and the new journey along the Chinese path to modernization. It also delves into the current opportunities and challenges that China faces, and China’s contribution to world development through its own progression, among other topics.
Chapter I Unification of China in history
Primitive Chinese civilization
Continuity of Chinese history
Formation of the ancient country
First unification and separation of China
Chinese empire reunified and split again
Third reunification of Chinese empire
Chapter II Origin of community of the Chinese nation
Geographical environment and inward movement
Different parts of China
Origin of the word “China”
A multi-ethnic country
Safeguarding national unity and fighting against separatism
Chapter III Traditional ideology and culture
Confucianism and the orthodox
Taoist thought and Taoism
Legalism and its practice
Introduction of Buddhism and its localization in China
Basic spirits of traditional thought and culture
Society steeped in traditional thoughts and culture
National character shaped by traditional thoughts and culture
Exchanges between ancient Chinese and foreign cultures
Chapter IV Developed country of the agricultural civilization era
Progress in agriculture and development of the handicraft industry
World-leading technologies
Sound political, legal and official selecting system
Language and characters
Incomparable achievements in literature
Unique artistic style
Colorful social life
Chapter V Crisis and development path in modern times
Closed doors and the decline of the Qing court
Disasters brought by opium
Seeking for self-improvement
Efforts to build a modern state
New cultural enlightenment movement
Ups and downs of national revolutionary movements
Founding of the PRC led by the CPC
Chapter VI Endeavors of the PRC and reform and opening-up
Starting from scratch
Explorations, and twists and turns in building socialism
Reform injecting vigor and vitality into socio-economic development
Opening to the outside world
China’s modernization drive making steady progress
Promoting the construction of a democratic country under the rule of law
Chapter VII China advancing into a new era
New challenges for development
Five-sphere integrated plan to promote coordinated national development
New era for comprehensively deepening the reform
Shifting from high-speed growth to high-quality development
Chapter VIII Fully building a modern socialist country
Steadily promoting strategies for modernization drive
Complete victory in fight against poverty
Achieving the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects
Embarking on a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country
Chapter IX Advocating building a community with a shared future
Following the path of peaceful development
Upholding multilateralism and diversity of civilizations
Being a responsible, major developing country
Belt and Road Initiative promoting global common development
