This course examines "new cultural history" approaches that have emerged since the 1980s, using them as analytical frameworks to rethink China's rich cultural histories. Rather than treating culture as a static record of facts, the course guides students in defining and explaining culture as a dynamic, evolving process shaped by power dynamics and intersecting forces. Through key case studies spanning premodern to modern Chinese history, students will gain a more rigorous and sophisticated understanding of the making and interpretation of culture. Topics explored include urban space and life, material culture, intellectual ideas, nationhood, media and information history, gender, historical memory, and popular culture. The goal is to empower students to challenge entrenched divides, engage in evidential interpretation, and participate in the ongoing debates surrounding China's cultural developments. Students will be able to analyze cultural phenomena with nuance, articulate the complexities of cultural change, and draw connections between culture and broader historical processes. The course equips students with critical analytical tools to rethink conventional narratives and understand the evolving field of Chinese cultural history.