Reputed historian John Keay has managed to do the impossible: summarize five thousand years of Chinese history into one intriguing and fun-to-read volume. While both of these things are true, China also has a long and eventful history that stretches back thousands of years and it has quickly developed into the world’s most populous country, which means there’s a lot to learn about this immense and ever-changing part of the world! With that in mind, here are our top ten recommended books you should read to help prepare for your trip to the Middle Kingdom, whether you’re a China expert or just beginning to learn: Many newcomers to China may not know much about it, except that it’s big and has great food.