Chinese Encounters with America tells the stories of twelve women and men whose American experiences transformed their lives and influenced China’s trajectory, with a particular focus on the period after Beijing and Washington established full diplomatic relations in 1979. Each chapter recounts how these Chinese citizens interpreted America and adapted their understanding to bolster China’s quest for modernization.

Their professions range from diplomacy, business, and science to sports, education, and the arts, but their distinctive stories are united by shared questions: Why did they go the United States, and why did they return to China? What difference did their encounters with America make in their lives and careers? What do their experiences tell us about the complexities of Sino-American interactions?

At a time when US-China relations are contentious, this book challenges the idea that American and Chinese interests and values are incompatible. It shows that personal encounters have been instrumental in finding common ground, even when there are differences and disagreements. Through vivid and engaging profiles, Chinese Encounters with America offers a fresh, nuanced understanding of the world’s most pivotal relationship.

Chinese Encounters with America offers a timely reminder that geopolitics involves not only the interests of competing nations, but the experiences of outstanding individuals whose personal struggles and perceptions of other cultures can influence history. -- Robert Daly, director of the Wilson Center’s Kissinger Institute on China and the United States
The chronicles of these Chinese individuals powerfully demonstrate how their interactions with Americans and exposure to American society can profoundly and beneficially shape the trajectories of relations between nations. -- Gary Locke, former US Ambassador to China and Governor of Washington State
A deeper, more human perspective on the complex and often contentious US-China relationship. Going beyond politics and policies, this book tells the stories of remarkable Chinese men and women whose American encounters transformed their lives and shaped their influence in China. -- Yingyi Ma, author of Ambitious and Anxious: How Chinese College Students Succeed and Struggle in American Higher Education
Since the late 1970s, China's reform and opening up has been closely intertwined with the steady expansion of Sino-American relations. Chinese Encounters with America vividly and insightfully recounts stories of key Chinese figures who were deeply involved in this transformative journey. -- Chen Jian, author of Zhou Enlai: A Life
A must-read for those who are concerned about the future of this all-important relationship. It reminds us of the complexity of contemporary China and shows that individuals who experienced American engagement also exemplified China's patriotism. -- Mary Brown Bullock, educator and scholar of US-China relations
The vivid and engaging portraits that Davis and Lautz have assembled remain a valuable contribution to understanding the pivotal relationship between America and China. -- Nayan Chanda * Global Asia *

Deborah Davis is professor emerita of sociology at Yale University, distinguished visiting professor at Fudan University, and visiting faculty member of the Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University. Her books include Wives, Husbands, and Lovers: Marriage and Sexuality in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Urban China (2014, coedited with Sara L. Friedman).

Terry Lautz is the author of John Birch: A Life (2016) and Americans in China: Encounters with the People’s Republic (2022). He is the former vice president and secretary of the Luce Foundation and has served as the board chair of the Harvard-Yenching Institute, Lingnan Foundation, and Yale-China Association.