Chinese literature is of long standing and well established. Early in the 6th century B.C., The Book of Odes, the first collection of poems in China, was compiled. More than 300 years later, Qu Yuan, the first great poet in the history of Chinese literature, wrote Li Sao (The Lament), a full-length lyrical poem. Later, in the long feudal society, Chinese literature further developed. For example, the official music houses of the Han Dynasty, poems of the Tang Dynasty, poetic genres of the Song Dynasty, quyi (Chinese folk art forms) of the Yuan Dynasty and novels of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The four Chinese famous works of classical literature are Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Outlaws of the Marsh, Story of a Journey to the West and A Dream of Red Mansions. The four famous works have editions in foreign languages.

In the 1920s, progressive writers, like Lu Xun, began to use literature as weapon to expose pressure groups and to arouse passions of the people. The representative works of this period are The True Story of Ah Q, The Goddesses and The Spring Silkworms.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Chinese literature entered its contemporary stage. Writers plunged into the thick of life and eulogized the spirit of selflessness and the contribution of Chinese people to the process of socialist construction and reform. The History of Starting an Undertaking, Song of Youth and Violent Storm are works of excellence in contemporary Chinese literature.