This work investigates the social, political, and cultural realities of China during the late 1970s and early 1980s, a period of profound transition for the nation. Tiziano Terzani, an experienced foreign correspondent, utilizes his unique position as one of the first Western journalists granted long-term residency in the People's Republic of China to document the country. By immersing himself in local life, adopting a Chinese name, and enrolling his children in domestic schools, Terzani provides a granular analysis of a society emerging from the isolation of the Cultural Revolution.

Experts and historians frequently cite this work as a foundational primary source for understanding the atmosphere of China during the early Reform and Opening-up period. Readers often note the author's immersive journalistic style, which provides a rare, grounded perspective on a country that was largely inaccessible to the Western public at the time.