China has experienced rapid changes in the past two decades. A New China, written from the perspective of a foreign student who has just arrived in China, has been designed to provide up-to-date material on the changing face of China. The text compares contemporary China with its pre-reform era and emphasizes improvements in Chinese society. As in previous textbooks, A New China aims to provide a solid foundation in grammar and pronunciation rather than teach vocabulary geared toward specific usage. As a new feature, the textbook includes vocabulary words on the same page as the lesson text, making comprehension of new reading passages easier for students. A New China is appropriate for intermediate-level students and includes both traditional and simplified characters.