China Books

China Books Founded in 1960, China Books is North America's largest distributor of books & magazines about China. between Florida and Alabama streets.

Click the link below for more information about our books and our !!!GIVEAWAYS!!! :

https://linktr.ee/chinabooks






About China Books

The story of China Books begins with Henry H. Noyes (1910-2004), who founded China Books & Periodicals Inc. as the sole importer of books and magazines from mainland China to the United States. Born in Guangzhou, China to missionary parents, Noyes left China fo

r San Francisco and then Toronto in 1919. He later earned his MFA in English Literature at the University of Toronto in 1933, and earned his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of London in 1938. He taught Creative Writing at the University of Toronto and University of Manitoba in 1939, and taught as the head of the Creative Writing Department at the University of Missouri. His books include “Hand Over Fist” (1980), “China Born: Adventures of a Maverick Bookman” (1989) and “Valley of the Sun” (1993). Noyes first established China Books & Periodicals on the Near North side of Chicago in 1960. The Cold War trade embargo made it difficult to obtain permission to receive shipments from China, but Noyes was able to register with the U.S. Government and received a license to import materials from the People’s Republic of China, and China Books became the sole distributor of books, magazines and newspapers from mainland China in North America. Three years later, he expanded the business to San Francisco, where it flourished as a retail store at 2929 24th Street in San Francisco’s vibrant Mission District. The San Francisco storefront became the focal point for much Bay Area political activism in the late 1960s’ counterculture movement, where China Books gained an unexpected windfall as the sole supplier of “Quotations From Chairman Mao” (also known as the “Little Red Book”), and by the late 1970s, China Books found an ever-growing and increasingly diverse audience comprised of scholars, students, travelers, and other individuals interested in all things China. As an importer of political documents, newspapers, magazines, and books, China Books was instrumental in the creation of numerous collections of post-1949 reference materials on contemporary China at major American university libraries and research institutions. The old San Francisco storefront remains a Mission District landmark where the “Bountiful Harvest” mural by the Precita Eyes Muralists can still be seen outside the old storefront at 2929 24th St. Today China Books remains the oldest and largest publisher, importer and distributor of books from and about China to North America. Now headquartered in South San Francisco, CA, and a part of Sinomedia International Group, China Books has expanded its wholesale, retail, and publishing operations with strategic partnerships in China and abroad, resulting in a worldwide distribution network, multimedia and library services, and an ever-increasing list of books and products specializing in promoting Chinese history, society, language and culture.

“A time-tempered, compassionate reflection on how an ordinary life—shaped by hardship, hope, and conscience—reveals the ...
05/13/2026

“A time-tempered, compassionate reflection on how an ordinary life—shaped by hardship, hope, and conscience—reveals the quiet power of human goodness amid the vast currents of fate.”

— Xinran, author of 𝙎𝙠𝙮 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙨𝙚: 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙇𝙤𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙈𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙣 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖, and 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙒𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖: 𝙃𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙑𝙤𝙞𝙘𝙚𝙨

Happy   from the China Books team!
05/02/2026

Happy from the China Books team!

In honor of pi day (3/14), learn about Zu Chongzhi (429-500) who computed the value of pi as between 3.1415926 and 3.141...
03/14/2026

In honor of pi day (3/14), learn about Zu Chongzhi (429-500) who computed the value of pi as between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927

Today marks the Lantern Festival, the final day of Chinese New Year celebrations.Wishing everyone light, warmth, and a y...
03/03/2026

Today marks the Lantern Festival, the final day of Chinese New Year celebrations.
Wishing everyone light, warmth, and a year ahead filled with good reading.
Happy Lantern Festival!

It’s the3rd day of Chinese New Year.After the food and family visits, today is a good day to slow down.Open a book. Let ...
02/19/2026

It’s the3rd day of Chinese New Year.
After the food and family visits, today is a good day to slow down.
Open a book. Let the year unfold one page at a time.

Valentine’s Day is not only about modern romance. Chinese literature has preserved some of the world’s most enduring lov...
02/13/2026

Valentine’s Day is not only about modern romance. Chinese literature has preserved some of the world’s most enduring love stories for centuries.
From The Butterfly Lovers to The Legend of the White Snake, these classics explore devotion, separation, sacrifice, and reunion across time, society, and even worlds.
China Books supplies original Chinese editions, bilingual versions, and academic studies of these timeless works for libraries, schools, and bookstores across the U.S.
Love stories last longer when they are written into literature.❤️

We had a wonderful time bringing Chinese books and cultural reading materials to campus for the Lunar New Year celebrati...
02/11/2026

We had a wonderful time bringing Chinese books and cultural reading materials to campus for the Lunar New Year celebration yesterday. It was great to see students and families exploring Chinese stories, language books, and culture themed titles together.
Events like this are exactly why "Chinese Books on Campus" exists. We want children to be able to see, touch, and enjoy authentic Chinese books in a fun school setting.
Thank you to the school and families for the warm welcome and the lively holiday atmosphere. Reading is one of the best bridges between cultures!
Schools and educators are always welcome to reach out to us about campus book events and curated Chinese book selections.

02/10/2026

✨2026 Xizang Spring Festival & Mini Photo Exhibition✨

📍Q Bay Center, 160 E Tasman Drive, San Jose CA

Sinomedia International Group held the 2026 Xizang Spring Festival & Mini Photo Exhibition on February 8, 2026, at the Q Bay Center in San Jose. The exhibition featured 10 photos highlighting life in Xizang, including clean energy, healthcare, education, and harmony between people and nature.

Historically, “Tibet” has been used in English as a direct translation, though in many international contexts it also refers more broadly to Tibetan-inhabited areas in Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, and Yunnan.

The event concluded with cultural performances, great food, and international dialogue, showcasing Xizang’s peaceful development and shared commitment to unity and sustainable progress.

Getting ready for Chinese New Year is not just decorations and food. Add some Chinese culture and story books to the cel...
02/09/2026

Getting ready for Chinese New Year is not just decorations and food. Add some Chinese culture and story books to the celebration!

Address

360 Swift Avenue, Suite 48
South San Francisco, CA
94080

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16508727076

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