One of the leading Chinese voices and minds who regularly contributes in English to foreign journals is Lijia Zhang, a former rocket factory worker who is now a writer, social critic, columnist and public speaker. She learned by herself English while working, since 1980, at the military factory that produced inter-continental missiles. Subsequently she was able to enroll in Goldsmiths, University of London, and graduated with a master’s degree. In China, Lijia Zhang began her work and writing assisting foreign journalists before going on to become a freelance journalist. She realized that she had something unique to contribute: her understanding of a culture that is still mostly unknown outside of China. With a special focus on gender problems, she offers commentary on China’s social and political transformations. She has spoken at conferences and organizations about contemporary China and works as a main communicator between China and the rest of the globe.
Her articles have been published in many newspapers and magazines, including South China Morning Post, The Japan Times, The Independent, The Guardian, Newsweek, and the New York Times. Macmillan published her first novel, Lotus, about prostitution in modern-day China, and BBC radio’s World Book Club highlighted it. She received the Mulan Award in England in 2018 for her literary and artistic contributions. She also has lectured at many universities around the world including Stanford University, Harvard University, Columbia University, New York University in the U.S., Monash University, the University of Sydney in Australia, and Leeds and Nottingham University in England and conferences including Asia EU Economic Forum, European Institute for Asian Studies. She was the subject of a BBC TV documentary Peschardt’s People. Sponsored by the United States Department of State, she was a fellow on the University of Iowa’s International Writing Program in 2009. She is a regular guest speaker on ABC, BBC, Channel 4, NPR and CNN. She balances her time between Beijing and London.
Lijia Zhang‘s official site | Instagram | Blog
This interview was first published in issue no. 17 of the free digital magazine Planet China.
What are your best childhood memories that helped you stay focused, strong, and determined? At what moment did you realize that writing would be your path?
My best childhood memories are of celebrating Chinese New Year with my family because that was the only time we had good food to eat. As a child, I lived for the festival. Growing up in poverty and being taken out of school were tough experiences, but they also built my resilience and made me strong. I developed the dream of becoming a writer early on at school when my teachers began reading my work as a good example for other students. Winning writing competitions, both within my school and beyond, reinforced my belief that writing was my path.
She became interested in writing books after Oxford University Press commissioned a book on the oral history of contemporary China. In addition to reflecting the significant social change brought about by the reforms and opening up in China, she wrote “Socialism Is Great!” a memoir on her experiences working in a factory in the 1980s.
I read that you’ve understood that learning English was a means of self-liberation. How has learning another language influenced your understanding of your identity and your ability to choose your own destiny?
I decided to teach myself English when I was about 22, still working at the rocket factory. At first, it was my escape route—I hoped that mastering English would help me find a job as an interpreter at an international company. The first Roman Emperor famously said: When you learn a new language, you gain a new soul. Looking back, learning English has fundamentally changed my life. It not only provided me with a “rice bowl,” allowing me to make a living by writing in English, but it also broadened my horizons. What I learned wasn’t just the ABCs, but an entire cultural framework.
Choosing English as my writing language was a conscious decision. In 1991, a Chinese publishing company asked me to write a book about Western perceptions of Chairman Mao. I completed the book, but it didn’t pass censorship. That experience made me realize that if I wanted true creative freedom, I had to write in English for an international audience. Writing in another language has also given me unexpected artistic freedom. Since English isn’t my native tongue, I feel more at liberty to be adventurous and experimental with my words and expressions. Yes, for me, writing in English has been a liberating experience. (See the link https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3286682/what-i-gained-and-lost-native-chinese-writing-english )
How did your early work experiences shape not only your worldview but also your approach to storytelling and bridging China and the world?
My early work experiences gave me a deep understanding of China and invaluable insight into Chinese society. Those lived experiences also provided me with material to write about, allowing me to tell authentic and nuanced stories about China to the world.
Your books explore themes of social change and gender issues in China. What aspects of contemporary mainland life do you feel remain underrepresented in global discussions, and how do you try to address these gaps?
I think farmers and rural communities are significantly underreported and underrepresented, both in China and globally. I spent a few months in rural communities in Guizhou, researching the issue of left-behind children, and I’ve published several stories on the topic.
You are a communicator between China and the world. In your experience, what misconceptions about contemporary China do you most frequently encounter in Western audiences? What are the biggest disconnects you felt, between Western perceptions of China and the reality you’ve experienced?
A big question and an important one.
There are many misconceptions about contemporary China that I frequently encounter in Western audiences, often shaped by limited media narratives, political biases, or outdated stereotypes. Some of the biggest disconnects between Western perceptions and my lived experience include:
- China as a Monolithic, Unchanging Entity
Misconception: Many Westerners see China as a uniform, homogenous society where everyone thinks and behaves the same way, often conflating “China” with “the government.”
Reality: China is vast and incredibly diverse—not just in ethnic groups, but in regional cultures, dialects, ideologies, and lifestyles.
- China as a Dystopian Surveillance State
Misconception: The West often portrays China as an Orwellian nightmare where every citizen is constantly monitored and oppressed by facial recognition cameras and social credit scores.
Reality: Surveillance is real, but daily life isn’t as dystopian as often imagined. Many people go about their lives with little direct impact from these systems, and some even see them as enhancing security. Meanwhile, digital censorship exists, but tech-savvy individuals find ways around it, and alternative conversations continue in private spaces.
In fact, many Chinese feel free. Sure, there’s still a cage in China, but compared to before, the cage has grown so much bigger that they often don’t feel the limit.
- Chinese Feminism and LGBTQ+ Issues Are Nonexistent
Misconception: Some believe there is no feminist or LGBTQ+ movement in China, assuming people passively accept traditional gender roles and discrimination.
Reality: Feminist activism and LGBTQ+ communities exist, though they face incredible challenges. After Xi took over power, he cracked down on feminists and their activism. However, young feminists still find ways to push for gender equality. Also daily feminism still exists, for example, resisting parents’ pressure to get married and live their lives in a way they see fitting.
Biggest Disconnect I’ve Felt
One of the biggest disconnects I’ve experienced is how Western audiences often separate Chinese people from their own agency. There’s a tendency to see them as passive victims of authoritarianism rather than individuals navigating complex realities. In contrast, many Chinese people I know don’t dwell on politics daily—they are pragmatic, adaptable, and focused on personal and familial well-being.
She is co-authored “China Remembers” (OUP, 1999) an oral history book of China’s first 50 years that she realized with her ex Calum MacLeod
Considering the control on narratives within China, how do you navigate discussions on sensitive topics while staying true to your voice? How do you balance personal narratives with social and cultural discussion?
As said, since I write in English for the international publication, I don’t have to go through Chinese government censorship.
Now the second question, balancing personal narratives with social and cultural discussions is a delicate process, especially when writing about identity, history, and political issues. Here’s how I approach it:
- Start with the Personal, Expand to the Social
I often begin with a personal experience—something immediate, intimate, and emotionally compelling. Then, I widen the lens to connect it with broader cultural or political themes. This makes abstract issues more tangible and relatable.
For example, when writing about the changing attitudes marriage, I began with the funny story of my grandma reading personal ads. See the link: https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3273449/put-ring-it-chinese-women-dont-need-marriage-any-more - Let the Personal Story Drive the Theme
Instead of forcing a political or cultural discussion into the narrative, I let the personal story naturally lead to broader questions. If I write about my grandmother’s life, I focus on her choices, sacrifices, and emotions, allowing themes like patriarchy, resilience, and survival to emerge organically.
Many of your works highlight women’s struggles in China. Have you observed shifts in gender dynamics since the start of your career? How do you see feminism evolving in China, and what challenges do Chinese women writers face today?
I mentioned feminism earlier. Since 2012, feminist activism has emerged in China. For example, on Valentine’s day that year, three women dressed up in fake-blood soaked wedding gowns to protest against domestic violence. But Xi started to crack down after he took power. Young feminists still find ways to fight and to push for equality. The reforms and opening up gave both men and women unprecedented opportunities but the income gap has been rising because during China’s transition from the planned economy to the market economy, women took more than their fair share of burden and cost. Women were the first to be laid off by the state-owned enterprises and more women lost their jobs. According to research and reports, the gender pay gap in China has indeed been widening since the country’s economic reforms and opening up, with studies showing a significant increase in the labor force participation gap between men and women, with the gap nearly doubling over the past two decades, rising from around 9 percentage points in the 1990s to almost 15 percentage points in 2020; this indicates a growing gender inequality in the Chinese labor market.
I read that to write your books you also did a lot of research, moved to different parts of China and spent a lot of time understanding the underworld of the women you wanted to write about. Can you please share with us a meaningful story from the background of these researches?
While researching for the novel Lotus, I spent a lot of time in Tianjin with a charity that supports female sex workers. I was keenly aware that my comfortable middle-class existence was very different from those women serving the lower end of the trade. Through working as a volunteer, I got to know quite a few sex workers really well. After we became friends, they opened up to me and shared their stories. All the characters were my creation but many details mentioned in the book were real.
Your journey from a rocket factory to becoming an internationally recognized writer is extraordinary. What advice would you give to young writers who seek to tell authentic stories to a global audience?
Live your life to the full; read as much as you can; and write every day if possible!
The International Women’s Day 2025, focus is “Accelerate Action”. What does empowerment mean to you, and how do you believe it can be fostered for women from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds in everyday life?
For me, empowerment means having the freedom, resources, and confidence to make choices that shape one’s own life, without being constrained by gender norms, systemic barriers, or societal expectations. It’s about economic independence, political voice, personal agency, and the ability to challenge injustice.
Empowerment looks different for women from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, but here are some key ways it can be nurtured. I think access to education and financial independence are most important.
Photos and courtesy of Lijia Zhang
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