“Farewell to slogans. Read, discuss, and understand modern China as it is.”
UGEA1555 Understanding Modern China
Course Description
Starting from the 2027–28 academic year, “Understanding Modern China” (UGCP1000) will replace “Understanding China” (UGCP1001) as a University Core requirement for all undergraduate students. In preparation for its full implementation, the Office of University General Education will pilot the course in 2026-27 as a three-unit General Education course (Area A: Chinese Cultural Heritage; course code: UGEA1555).
The new 3-unit course aims to introduce important ideas, events and agents that have shaped the historical process of modernization in China, with a view to providing a conceptual framework for a systematic and structured understanding of modern China. It will provide a comprehensive overview of political, socio-economic and cultural developments in China over the last century and a half, which form the underpinnings of the nation’s present-day programmes, policies, and accomplishments.
Topics
- Understanding the transition from imperial to modern China: the historical perspective
- Economic transformation in modern China
- Social change and cultural transformation in modern China
- Chinese modernization: visions for the future
Teaching Timetable
| Course Code | Teacher | Language | Class Period | Venue | |
| Lecture | Tutorial | ||||
| Term 1, 2026-27 | |||||
| UGEA1555A | Dr. Henry Choi | Cantonese | Wed 14:30-16:15 | Wed 16:30-17:15 | FYB405 |
| UGEA1555B | Dr. Ray Song | English | Mon 14:30-16:15 | Mon 16:30-17:15 | FYB405 |
| UGEA1555C | Dr. Heidi Huang | Putonghua | Tue 10:30-12:15 | Tue 12:30-13:15 | CKB109 |
| UGEA1555D | Dr. Adrienne Lam | English | Tue 10:30-12:15 | Tue 12:30-13:15 | ELB308 |
| Term 2, 2026-27 | |||||
| UGEA1555A | Dr. Henry Choi | Cantonese | Wed 14:30-16:15 | Wed 16:30-17:15 | HYS501 |
| UGEA1555B | Dr. Ray Song | English | Mon 14:30-16:15 | Mon 16:30-17:15 | FYB405 |
| UGEA1555C | Dr. Heidi Huang | Cantonese | Tue 10:30-12:15 | Tue 12:30-13:15 | CKB UG04 |
| UGEA1555D | Dr. Lin Fanqi | Putonghua | Tue 10:30-12:15 | Tue 12:30-13:15 | HYS501 |
| UGEA1555E | Dr. Adrienne Lam | English | Thu 14:30-16:15 | Thu 16:30-17:15 | HYS501 |
Special Options
As a pilot course, students completing UGEA1555 with at least a D grade may use it to fulfil either (i) three units of the Area A General Education (GE) requirement, or (ii) both the UGCP1001 (one unit) core curriculum requirement and two units of the Area A GE requirement.
Enrollment Requirements
To enrol in UGEA1555 Understanding Modern China, the CUHK undergraduate students must satisfy one of the following enrolment requirements:
- Have completed UGFH1000 In Dialogue with Humanity or UGFN1000 In Dialogue with Nature and obtained at least a passing grade; or
- Enrol in UGEA1555 concurrently with UGFH1000 In Dialogue with Humanity or UGFN1000 In Dialogue with Nature in either Term 1 or Term 2.
Enquiry
General Education China Programme, Office of University General Education
Tel: (852) 3943 1902
Email: ugcp@cuhk.edu.hk