Work, according to Zhang, began last June on a Guide to Famous Works of Contemporary Chinese Literature.

During the selection process, CCTSS is reported to have worked with 29 editors of Chinese literary magazines, along with 40 university-based literary critics to select 192 novels from among the 651 candidates for introduction to international readers. Twenty translators were hired to translate the works into English.

Each introduction in the guide will include an author profile, synopsis, and review.