A guide to China since the death of Mao Zedong, explaining and assessing the political conficts and developments of the post-Mao era and the dramatic economic transformations launched by the new leadership. Other key areas of transformation, such as international relations, are also considered, as are education, social structure, literary revival, health and medicine. This introduction to Chinese politics, society and economic and cultural life also includes coverage of the October 1987 Party Congress.