In the 1980s and 1990s, China went through an intensive process of liberalization of social and cultural life, as well as economic reforms. As a result, China strengthened its position of the leading player of the globalized world, being quickly westernized at the same time. On the other hand, China is also one of the oldest civilizational centres, with a different and rich musical, theatrical, literary, philosophical, historical, and scientific tradition. That is why it is natural that various aspects concerning the present and the history of China arouse the interest of scientists that represent various areas of science. (
) The collective work China at the Beginning of the 21st Century edited by Lukasz Gacek, PhD, and Ewa Trojnar, PhD, is a sign of this natural curiosity. (
) All texts run in this book are on a proper factual and scientific level. The entirety describes and explains the reader the chosen, interesting areas of the Chinese reality at the beginning of the 21st century concerning cultural studies, international relations, as well as military and energy safety.