The paradox of contemporary China--its openness to Western technology, yet its rejection of Western democratic ideals--serves to make China appear remote and inaccessible to those outside. The country's vast area and population only accentuate these difficulties. The Cambridge Handbook of Contemporary China draws from numerous sources, official and otherwise, to present nformation on all aspects of Chinese life since 1949. Useful maps and tabled statistics accompany the text, which is divided into clearly defined categories, including political and legal structures, biography, foreign relations, the economy, population, culture and society as well as a detailed chronology, a gazetteer and a bibliographic section. --From publisher's description.