Advertisement
Books

Top 5 books about China, chosen by Xinran Xue

The British-Chinese author, journalist and activist selects five books that explore Chinese history and culture

Author Xinran Xue selects her top picks when it comes to books about China.

1 Cherries on a Pomegranate Tree by Li Er

This tells the story of one woman’s above and beyond leadership through the anxious times of one-child policy crackdowns. Li Er’s admiration for the unheard voices of those impacted by these regulations are nimbly elevated through an unforgettable cast of characters.

2 Faces in the Crowd: 36 Extraordinary Tales of Tianjin by Feng Jicai

The port of Tianjin is where the ancient Chinese empire met the sea. The turn of the 20th century was a tumultuous time for the city, with the Qing dynasty on its last legs and the Boxers unleashing their ill-fated rebellion against the European trading concessions that had colonised its streets.

3 Getting Things Doneby Feng Tang

Advertisement
Advertisement

The best book on eastern management wisdom, combining Chinese historic perspective and McKinsey style of management thinking.

4 Cloud Chamberby Tim Clissold

This is a selection of medieval Chinese poems relevant to contemporary life in the West; ancient Chinese poets writing of the dangers of excess logging of forests, social inequality, homelessness, tax evasion and substance abuse. It provides a bridge between the wisdom of these ancient masters and our preoccupations today.

5 Souls Left Behind by Fan Wu

During the First World War, 140,000 Chinese labourers supported France and Britain’s war effort in Europe. They conducted arduous work, but their contribution has barely been recognised. Fan Wu’s well-researched novel depicts this little-known history. It’s a story of hardship, survival and love, as well as of belonging and how history shapes us. 

Xinran Xue is the author of nine books published worldwide, including The Good Women of China, Sky Burial and The Promise. You can buy them from The Big Issue shop on Bookshop.org, which helps to support The Big Issue and independent bookshops.

This article is taken from The Big Issue magazine, which exists to give homeless, long-term unemployed and marginalised people the opportunity to earn an income.

To support our work buy a copy! If you cannot reach your local vendor, you can still click HERE to subscribe to The Big Issue today or give a gift subscription to a friend or family member. You can also purchase one-off issues from The Big Issue Shop or The Big Issue app, available now from the App Store or Google Play.

Advertisement

Learn more about our impact

When most people think about the Big Issue, they think of vendors selling the Big Issue magazines on the streets – and we are immensely proud of this. In 2022 alone, we worked with 10% more vendors and these vendors earned £3.76 million in collective income. There is much more to the work we do at the Big Issue Group, our mission is to create innovative solutions through enterprise to unlock opportunity for the 14million people in the UK living in poverty.

Recommended for you

Read All
Goodbye Eastern Europe: Finding the remains of a lost world
History

Goodbye Eastern Europe: Finding the remains of a lost world

Top 5 books about queer teenage romance, chosen by Helen Palmer
LGBT+

Top 5 books about queer teenage romance, chosen by Helen Palmer

Quiet Fires by Andriniki Mattis review: Realities of living as a transgender Black person in America
Poetry

Quiet Fires by Andriniki Mattis review: Realities of living as a transgender Black person in America

A Flat Place by Noreen Masud review: Finding a sense of self in landscapes
nature

A Flat Place by Noreen Masud review: Finding a sense of self in landscapes

Most Popular

Read All
Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023
1.

Here's when people will get the next cost of living payment in 2023

Strike dates 2023: From trains to airports to tube lines, here are the dates to know
2.

Strike dates 2023: From trains to airports to tube lines, here are the dates to know

Suranne Jones opens up about her 'relentless and terrifying' experiences of bullying
3.

Suranne Jones opens up about her 'relentless and terrifying' experiences of bullying

Arctic Monkeys team up with Big Issue to produce unique tour programme
4.

Arctic Monkeys team up with Big Issue to produce unique tour programme