Books of the month: March 2023

Snow by the Sea, The Hot Springs on Moon Mountain

"Snow by the Sea" and "The Hot Springs on Moon Mountain" from Foreign Languages Press's "Chronicles of the New Era" collection feature stories written by renowned Chinese authors such as A Lai, Su Tong, Tie Ning, Bi Feiyu, and Wang Anyi. They offer readers an intimate glimpse into the everyday lives, relationships, emotions, challenges, and aspirations of people in contemporary China. 

Originally published in Chinese in the People's Literature magazine, this collection has been translated into seven languages, including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Korean, with the aim of sharing the experiences of Chinese people with a broader international audience.

Keywords to Understand China — Chinese Philosophy: Origins and Contemporary Relevance

Published by New World Press, "Keywords to Understand China — Chinese Philosophy: Origins and Contemporary Relevance" offers a concise yet insightful introduction to the values and development of the Chinese civilization, demonstrating its cultural confidence and promoting cultural exchange.

Stamped Journeys: The Maritime Silk Road in the Miniature World of Stamps

Published by Dolphin Books, "Stamped Journeys: The Maritime Silk Road in the Miniature World of Stamps" showcases over 700 stamps and postal items related to the Maritime Silk Road from more than 30 countries and regions. 

It provides readers with an insightful glimpse into the history and cultural significance of the Maritime Silk Road, highlighting its role as a path of openness, cooperation, and peaceful development that connects the Chinese dream with that of the world. With sections on ports, post stations, landmarks, travelers, and stamp appreciation, this book offers a unique perspective on the diverse cultures and rich history of the Maritime Silk Road.

Spectacular China Series

Published by Dolphin Books, the "Spectacular China Series" is a collection of two English-language books: "The Yangtze River" and "The Yellow River." The books feature vivid hand-drawn maps and are created in the fold-out form, with interesting content that introduces natural landforms, history and culture, ethnic customs, local cuisine, famous scenic spots, and rare animals in the Yangtze River and Yellow River basins.

The series was compiled by science education company Beidou Children's Geography. It is an interesting read for readers who want to learn about Chinse geography.

Different Dreams Series

Published by Dolphin Books, the "Different Dreams Series" is a collection of six picture books, each telling a story about a dream. The books are based on the inspiring stories of famous artists and athletes with disabilities in China — Tai Lihua, Zhu Yue, Wang Bin, Qian Hongyan, Liu Cuiqing, Xu Donglin, and Wang Mengxing.

Another Side of Chinese Literati, Another Side of Chinese Poets

Published by China Pictorial Press, the two books provide new perspectives on famous Chinese literary figures in history such as Dong Zhongshu, Zhuge Liang, Li Bai, and Su Dongpo. Based on their stories and classic works, the books provide an insight into their life stories and inner world.

The Biography of Hangzhou

"The Biography of Hangzhou" chronologically recounts how Hangzhou transformed from a swampy ground to a wonderland on earth through natural changes as well as the efforts of generations of people. As part of the collection of biographies of cities along the Belt and Road route, this book presents the city's ups and downs and depicts its historical figures with poetic expressions. The Chinese edition is published by New Star Press.

Walking into History through Tang Poetry

"Walking into History through Tang Poetry" delves into the society of the Tang dynasty (618-907) through acclaimed poems created during that time, exploring its government system, imperial examinations, urban landscape, cultural activities, transportation, tax and labor system, and changes of the social structure. The book is published by New Star Press.

Monkey King

"Monkey King" tells popular stories from the Chinese masterpiece "Journey to the West" through illustrations by a group of artists. With all Chinese characters marked with Pinyin — the standard system of Roman spelling in Chinese — the book offers smooth and immersive reading experience to children aged 3 to 6. The Chinese edition is published by Blossom Press.