China’s image in the modern era was, in fact, shaped by Westerners. This can be traced back 700 years, when Italian explorer Marco Polo introduced this mysterious faraway land to his countrymen and then to other Westerners.
It was not until the mid-1990s, almost two decades after New China instituted economic reforms and opened up to the world, that the country began to ponder its international image. The Chinese government realized the importance of effective communication with world powers, led by the US. Hence, the government fine-tuned its working style and think tanks were established to study how China could protect its image. These developments were documented by journalists, novelists and filmmakers.