Books & Films About China

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We recommend watching a film or two before you travel to set the scene, and taking a book to read whilst you travel, to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of China.

Here is a list of books and films which we have found both informative and entertaining.

Books
China: People Place Culture History by Peter Neville
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
China Road: One Man's Journey into the Heart of Modern China by Rob Grifford
The Man Who Loved China: the Fantastic Story and the Eccentric Scientists who unlocked the mystery of the Middle Kingdom by Simon Winchester
River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze by Peter Hessler (A must if you are cruising on the Yangtze)
Oracle Bones: A Journey Between China's Past and Present by Peter Hessler
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
The Search for Modern China by Jonathan Spence
A Loyal Character Dancer by Qiu Xiaolong
Shanghai: The Rise and Fall of a Decadent City by Stella Dong
A Season in Red by Kirsty Needham
The Travels of Marco Polo by Marco Polo (edited by Manuel Komroff)
Falling Leaves: The True Story of an Unwanted Chinese Daughter by Adeline Yen Mah
Red Dust by Ma Jian

Films
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon by Ang Lee (2000)
In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar Wai (2000)
Raise the Red Lantern by Zhang Yimou (1991)
Infernal Affairs by Lau Wai-keung (2002)
Curse of the Golden Flower by Zhang Yimou (2006)
Farewell my Concubine by Chen Kaige (1993)
Eat Drink Man Women by Ang Lee (1994)
Red Sorghum by Zhang Yimou (1987)
Story of Qiu Ju by Zhang Yimou (1992)
Last Train Home by Fan Lixin (2009)
The Last Emperor by Bernardo Bertolucci (1987)

TV
Wild China (BBC 2008)
China: Triumph & Turmoil (Channel 4 2012)
Art of China (BBC 2014)
Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure (BBC 2014)