本教程涵盖中国文化最具代表性的十六个主题，包括：神话传说、名胜古迹、饮食文化、茶文化、中医药学、生肖年历、戏剧艺术、书法艺术、中国语言、儒家思想、道家思想、古典诗词、文学名著、孙子兵法、中国功夫和建筑艺术。每个单元精选3篇文章，分别介绍主题、回顾经典、引发思考，一方面帮助学生深化对中国文化的理解，另一方面帮助学生学会用英语来介绍和研究中国文化。
作为一本介绍中国文化的读本，本教程的选文大都精选自原汁原味的著作、文章和报道。选材来源包括：海外汉学家的著作和文章，权威刊物、报纸、新闻机构的报道、分析、采访内容等，中国官媒、主流文化网站等的对外宣传文章，中国学者的英文著作或翻译作品，文学名著英译本，等等。
每个主题的选文安排都根据学生的认知特点由浅入深：先通过一篇介绍性的文章帮助学生了解这一主题的概况，同时熟悉如何用英语介绍这一主题；接着通过一篇经典选文的阅读，品味该主题的精髓和更深层的意义；最后借助一篇评论性文章，启发学生从不同视角去审视该主题的本质与特征、发展与演变、批判与应用，培养学生的思辨能力。

束定芳，上海外国语大学教授、博士生导师，上海市英语教育教学研究基地首席专家，《外国语》主编。出版的著作包括《现代外语教学：理论、实践与方法》(1996，2008)、《隐喻学研究》(2000)、《现代语义学》(2000)、《外语教学改革：问题与对策》(2004)、《认知语义学》(2008)、《大学英语教学成功之路》(2010)、《中国外语战略研究》(2012)、《认知语言学研究方法》(主编，2013)等，主编《新目标大学英语》教材系列(2016)等。

Unit 1 Myths and Legends
Reading A A General Introduction to Chinese Mythology
Reading B Ntiwa Creates People
Reading C The Chinese Dragon vs. The Western Dragon
Unit 2 Places of Interest
Reading A World Cultural Heritage in China
Reading B A Visit to Huangshan Mountain
Reading C
1. "Warriors" Protect Hutong with Cameras
2. Problems of Hutong
Unit 3 Chinese Cuisine
Reading A Chinese Cuisine
Reading B On Eating
Reading C Inspiration for Change
Unit 4 Tea Culture
Reading A Chinese Tea
Reading B Excerpts from The Classic of Tea
Reading C In Hot and Liquid Times
Unit 5 Traditional Chinese Medicine
Reading A Traditional Chinese Medicine: An Introduction
Reading B Excerpts from Brush Talks from Dream Brook
Reading C Traditional Chinese Medicine and Modern Western Medicine
Unit 6 The Chinese Calendar
Reading A The Chinese Calendar
Reading B Month Seven
Reading C Website Imparts Zodiac Wisdom
Unit 7 Traditional Chinese Opera
Reading A Chinese Opera
Reading B Farewell My Lady
Reading C In with Old and in with New
Unit 8 Calligraphy
Reading A Chinese Calligraphy: An Introduction
Reading B Chinese Calligraphy
Reading C China's Handwriting Challenge
Unit 9 The Chinese Language
Reading A The Chinese Language: Past and Present
Reading B The Chinese Language
Reading C The Chinese Language: Ever Evolving
Unit 10 Confucianism
Reading A The Analects of Confucius
Reading B Confucius
Reading C A Brief Estimate of the Character of Confucius
Unit 11 Taoism
Reading A Lao Tzu and Chuang Tzu
Reading B Excerpts from Tao Te Ching
Reading C The Tao of No Stress
Unit 12 Classical Poetry
Reading A A Brief Introduction to Classical Chinese Poetry
Reading B Selected Works of Classical Poetry
Reading C Li Po and Tu Fu
Unit 13 Classic Novels
Reading A China's Classic Novels
Reading B An Excerpt from The Dream of the Red Chamber
Reading C The Chinese Novel
Unit 14 The Art of War
Reading A The Art of War
Reading B Attack by Stratagem
Reading C Fighting Your Business Battles: 6 Lasting Lessons from The Art of War
Unit 15 Chinese Kung Fu
Reading A Kung Fu
Reading B Yang Family Forty Chapters
Reading C Kung Fu for Philosophers
Unit 16 Chinese Architecture
Reading A The Art of Chinese Architecture
Reading B Cave Temples
Reading C When Commerce Kills Culture