The Chinese, one-fifth of humanity, are not a faceless mass, but many individuals with cultural and social backgrounds, with families, professions, leisure activities, as well as hopes and desires. This book addresses all of this. To understand current developments, the author explains the historical and political contexts from Confucianism to the present role of the party. He also discusses numerous social phenomena that are hardly known to us, such as the problematic water supply, the difficulties young women face in finding suitable partners, and the rapid digitalization of society along with the spread of social media like WeChat. Additionally, it touches on topics present in Germany, such as concerns about piracy and threats to the German economy from Chinese acquisitions in the context of the new Silk Road.