An informative and entertaining book about Old Shanghai.

Waiting
By Ha Jin.

A gripping novel that reflects that changes in Chinese society from the 1960's through the 80s.

Wild Swans
By Jung Chang.

A memoir recounting three generations of women during the 20th century.

River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze
By Peter Hessler.

A view of rural China through the eyes of an American teaching English there.

Oracle Bones
by Peter Hessler

An account of modern China as viewed through the lives of friends and neighbors Hessler met while a journalist in China.

Chinese Business Etiquette: A guide to Protocol, Manners, and Culture in the PRC
by Seligman, Scott.

A good introduction to etiquette and culture.

Doing Field Work in China
by Maria Heimer and Stig Thogersen

A useful guide for the Capstone Project.

Selected Stories of Lu Hsun
by Lu Xun.

A collection of stories from the most famous Chinese writer of the early 20th century.

Guidebooks

Time Out Shanghai.
Lonely Planet (China, Beijing, or Shanghai guides)
Insider's Guide to Beijing (available for purchase in Beijing)

Films

By Zhang Yimou:

• Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles (set in Yunnan Province's Lijiang region)
• Raise the Red Lantern
• Ju Dou
• The Story of Qiu Ju
• To Live
• Not One Less
• The Road Home
• Happy Times
• Shanghai Triad (great to learn about Shanghai in the 1930s)

By Ang Lee:

• Eat, Drink, Man, Woman

By Chen Kaige:

• Farewell, My Concubine
• Temptress Moon (also good for 1920's Shanghai)
• Yellow Earth

By Wong Kar-Wei (Hong Kong):

• In the Mood for Love

By Jia Zhang-Ke:

• The World

By Dai Sijie:

• Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (also a novel)

By Zhang Yang:

• Shower (set in today's Beijing!)

By Wang Xiaoshuai:

• Beijing Bicycle (also contemporary Beijing)

By Tian Zhuangzhuang:

• Springtime in a Small Town

By Stephen Chow:

• Kungfu Hustle

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