Lijia Zhang

Lijia Zhang (Chinese: 张丽佳; pinyin: Zhāng Lìjiā; born May 12, 1964, in Nanjing) is a rocket-factory-worker turned Chinese writer, columnist and

public speaker. She describes herself as a communicator between China and the world and has given talks at conferences and institutions about contemporary China. She has lectured at many universities around the world including Stanford University, Harvard University, Columbia University, New York University in the U.S., Monash University, the University of Sydney in Australia, and Leeds and the University of Nottingham in England.

Early life and education

Zhang was born into a poor worker’s family in Nanjing, yet she dreamed to become a writer. At the age of 16, she was dragged out of school and began working in a military factory that produced inter-continental missiles. During the decade at the factory she taught herself English. In 2003, she was able to attend Goldsmiths, University of London, where she earned a master's degree in creative writing.

Career

Her articles have been published in many newspapers and magazines, including South China Morning Post, The Japan Times, The Independent, The Guardian, Newsweek, and the New York Times. She comments on China’s social and political changes, with a keen interest in gender issues. She co-authored China Remembers (OUP, 1999) and her memoir "Socialism Is Great!": A Worker's Memoir of the New China, was published by Atlas & Co.