For thousands of years, the Chinese believed that they had
created a perfect social system, based on Confucian values and
tempered by the “Mandate of Heaven.” Dynasties came and
went, but the essence of being Chinese remained essentially
unchanged until the twentieth century. Since then, change has
taken place in Chinese society at unprecedented speed, as the
country first experienced the turmoil of civil war and revolution
before emerging on to the world stage as a global superpower.
Culture Smart! China aims to put these changes into an historical
context, explain deep-seated cultural attitudes, and guide you
through the maze of unfamiliar social situations, in order to help
you discover for yourself the pragmatism, genius, warmth, and
humanity of this extraordinary people.