A Compelling Journey from Peking to Washington: Building a New Life in America

The son of a prominent Chinese government official and general and the former schoolmate of Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, Chi Wang personally experienced one of the most tumultuous periods in Chinese history, including the Marco Polo Bridge Incident, the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and mainland China, and the Chinese Civil War (1946-1949). In 1949, Wang left China for the United States, traveling though mainland China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong during the final days of the Chinese Civil War. After arriving in America, he quickly made a life for himself and became active in the development of Sino-American relations. From sitting behind Secretary of State William Rogers and President Nixon's daughter during "ping-pong diplomacy," to orchestrating the release of Young Marshal Zhang Xueliang, to presiding over the exponential growth of the Chinese collection at the Library of Congress, Wang's memoirs provide unique Chinese insight in the development of Sino-American relations at a pivotal time in our shared history.