Spanning four decades following the creation of the People's Republic in 1949, The ancient ship is a bold examination of a society in turmoil, the struggle of oppressed people to control their own fate, and the clash between tradition and modernization. In the course of the narrative, the townspeople of Wali (a fictional northern town) face the moments that have defined China's history during the latter part of the twentieth century: the land reform programs, the famine of 1959-1961, the Great Leap Forward, the Anti-Rightist Campaign, and the Cultural Revolution. Translated into English for the first time, The ancient ship is a revolutionary work of Chinese fiction that speaks to people across the globe.