Supported by the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, Ministry of Education, and written by Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), Discovering China—A People-to-People Exchange Reader is a popular book introducing contemporary China and the excellent traditional Chinese culture. The main content is divided into seven parts, including Approaching China, History, Culture and Chinese Society, China and the World, Modern China, Living in China, China under the Rule of Law, and Developing China.
About the Author
This series was commissioned by the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, Ministry of Education, and written by dozens of experts from the International Education Management Office, the College of International Chinese Studies, the College of Sinology and Chinese Studies, and the College of Applied Chinese Studies of Beijing Language and Culture University.
Editorial Review
1. Telling both ancient and modern China with a focus on the latter; Vertically and horizontally interwoven into a complete system.
Vertically, the book tells both the ancient and the modern. Horizontally, it covers the fields of politics, economy, history, geography, culture, laws and regulations. Considering the needs of most learners, this book mainly introduces modern China.
2. Teamwork under experts’ control; all-embracing and keeping pace with the times.
Based on the successful experience of various Overview of China textbooks, this book strives to reflect the latest research results of various fields and adopt authoritative and up-to-date data, so as to reflect the ever-changing development of modern China. It also focuses more on people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding between China and the rest of the world.
3. Combining points in a well-structured way; expanding moderately to represent rich details.
This book strives to bring out the essentials and give concise summary, so that learners are able to have a clear grasp of the basic knowledge of the book. Meanwhile, it tries to be specific and vivid, so that learners are able to extend what they have learned through audio and video, online supplementary resources and other ways to enrich the details, add interest and increase practicality, deepening learners’ understanding and mastery of the knowledge points, as well as meeting some students’ needs of in-depth study.
4. Vivid, witty and humorous language; fresh and interesting illustrations and examples.
The language of this book is easy for learners to understand and absorb, which helps to enhance the readability. The expression is humorous and vivid, with a large number of illustrations integrating Chinese culture and modern urban life and a large number of real-life photographs. Meanwhile, creative illustrations and layout design can help to increase reading interest and deepen learners’ comprehension and memory of knowledge points.
Suggestion
There are 32 lessons in total, and it is recommended that each lesson be completed in 2-4 class hours, depending on the level of the learners. Teachers can appropriately arrange for students to go out of the classroom to complete specific communicative tasks using the language and cultural knowledge they have learned, according to the teaching sessions.
The book is for:
(1) International students studying in China
(2) Senior managers of chambers of commerce, foreign companies and enterprises in China, etc.
(3) Diplomats and representatives in China, representatives of the United Nations in China, and so on.
(4) Foreign experts
(5) Foreigners who come to China for short-term work or visit, or who come to China in admiration of the city
(6) Overseas Chinese leaders and people from overseas Chinese communities and their children
