China is very much in the news particularly since Richard Nixon and Dr. Kissinger visited that country in 1972, ending almost 25 years of seclusion. With the passing away in quick succession of Mao Testing and Chou En - Lai who had led the new nation for four decades, China has entered a new phase of her development, trying to bring herself into the mainstream of international affairs. For us in India, what happens in China is of great interest - she is not only the country with which we have many traditional ties but is also our immediate neighbour with whomk we share an uneasy border but there are signs that new moves are being made on both sides to seek solution to outstanding problems. It is, therefore, doubly important for us to know the ‘real’ China - its strength and weakness so that we can deal with it from a position of knowledge. Dr. Ram K. Vepa, a senior official of the Government of India, had occasion to visit China in October - November 1978 as a member of a U. N. group. His trip took him to the big towns - Canton, Nan king, Shanghai and Peking - as also to the countryside. His visit was concerned primarily with development of small industries in rural areas - on which Chairman Mao had placed great emphasis - and in the context of our own attempt to encourage rural industrialisation; China’s experience is of special interest. Even more interesting are his observations on life in China (based on years of ‘China watching’) and the parallels he draws between the Chinese and Indian experiences in development. This is a book that will interest policy makers and politicians as well as the general public who would like to know more about China - seen through, the eyes of a perceptive Indian observer.