• 贾平凹 Jia Pingwa: Highly acclaimed author whose works typically take place in Shaanxi where he’s from. Recommended works:《废都》Ruined City (1993) - Banned shortly after being published in the 90s due to its explicit sexual content. Unbanned a few decades later, now considered one of the greatest Chinese novels of the 20th century;《极花》Broken Wings (2016) - Highly controversial novel about a woman who gets kidnapped and trafficked;《秦腔》Qin Opera (2005) - Won the 2009 Mao Dun Literature Prize;《浮躁》Turbulence (1987);《带灯》The Lantern Bearer (2013)
• 莫言 Mo Yan: Winner of the 2012 Nobel Prize in Literature. Recommended works:《红高粱家族》Red Sorghum (1986) - Mo Yan’s first novel, turned into a movie by Zhang Yimou;《丰乳肥臀》Big Breasts & Wide Hips (1995);《蛙》Frog (2009) - Won the 2011 Mao Dun Literature Prize;《生死疲劳》Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out (2006);《天堂蒜薹之歌》The Garlic Ballads (1988);《酒国》The Republic of Wine (1993)
• 鲁迅 Lu Xun: One of the most important Chinese authors, a pioneer in vernacular literature, still often quoted by people in China. Originally studied in Japan to become a doctor, but decided to become a writer instead, because he felt that it was the souls of the Chinese people, not their bodies, that needed healing. Recommended works:《呐喊》Call to Arms (1923) - Collection of his most important short stories/novellas like《狂人日记》A Madman's Diary,《阿Q正传》The True Story of Ah Q, 《孔乙己》, 《药》Medicine
• 阎连科 Yan Lianke: Known for his very satirical works and controversial subject matter. Recommended works:《丁庄梦》Dream of Ding Village (2006);《为人民服务》Serve the People! (2005);《受活》Lenin's Kisses (2004);《坚硬如水》Hard Like Water (2001)
• 余华 Yu Hua Recommended works:《活着》To Live (1998);《许三观卖血记》Chronicle of a Blood Merchant (1995);《兄弟》Brothers (2005);《十个词汇里的中国》China in Ten Words (2011)
• 丁玲 Ding Ling Recommended works:《莎菲女士的日记》Miss Sophia's Diary (1927)
• 杨绛 Yang Jiang Recommended works:《我们仨》We Three (2003, non-fiction);《洗澡》Baptism (1988)
• 巴金 Ba Jin Recommended works:《激流三部曲**》**Torrents Trilogy (《家》The Family (1933)、《春》Spring (1938)、《秋》Autumn (1940))
• 茅盾 Mao Dun Recommended works:《子夜》Midnight (1933);《虹》Rainbow (1929)
• 老舍 Lao She Recommended works:《骆驼祥子》Rickshaw Boy (1937);《茶馆》Teahouse (1957);《四世同堂》Four Generations Under One Roof
• 迟子建 Chi Zijian Recommended works:《额尔古纳河右岸》The Last Quarter of the Moon (2005) - Won the 2008 Mao Dun Literature Prize
• 钱钟书 Qian Zhongshu Recommended works:《围城》Fortress Besieged (1947)
• 沈从文 Shen Congwen Recommended works:《边城》Border Town (1934)
• 苏童 Su Tong Recommended works:《妻妾成群》Raise the Red Lantern (1990) - Turned into a movie by Zhang Yimou;《红粉》Petulia's Rouge Tin (2004);《黄雀记》Shadow of the Hunter - Won the 2015 Mao Dun Literature Prize
• 王朔 Wang Shuo Recommended works:《看上去很美》Could Be Beautiful (2004);《一半是火焰，一半是海水》Hot and Cold, Measure for Measure (1986);《玩儿的就是心跳》Playing for Thrills (1989);《动物凶猛》Wild Beasts (1991);《千万别把我当人》Please Don’t Call Me Human (2004)
• 王小波 Wang Xiaobo Recommended works: 《时代三部曲》The Ages Trilogy（《黄金时代》The Golden Age (1991)、《白银时代》The Silver Age、 《青铜时代》The Bronze Age）;《黑铁时代》The Iron Age;《沉默的大多数》The Silent Majority (non-fiction)
• 萧红 Xiao Hong Recommended works:《生死场》The Field of Life and Death (1935);《呼兰河传》Tales of Hulan River (1941)
• 高行健 Gao Xingjian Recommended works:《灵山》Soul Mountain (1990)
• 韩少功 Han Shaogong Recommended works:《马桥词典》A Dictionary of Maqiao (1996);《山南水北》
• 姜戎 Jiang Rong Recommended works:《狼图腾》Wolf Totem (2004)