Scholarly articles are written for scholars in a discipline, by scholars in a discipline, and as such they present new information, usually using specialized language and methods. For background, factual, or basic information on a topic, use a scholarly reference book. These give facts, identify stakeholders, define terms and otherwise provide useful information to start researching a topic. Furthermore, they may identify key controversies or disagreements around a topic, provide a historiography and reading list, and name the scholars who specialize in that area.
Cambridge History of China
Encyclopedia of China : the essential reference to China, its history and culture by 
Historical dictionary of the Chinese Cultural Revolution by 
A Military History of China by 
The SAGE Handbook of Contemporary China by
The SAGE Handbook of Contemporary China is a two-volume exploration of the transformations of contemporary China, firmly grounded in the both disciplinary and China-specific contexts. Drawing on a range of scholarly approaches found in the social sciences and history, an international team of contributors engage with the question of what a rapidly changing China means for the broader field of contemporary China studies, and identify areas of promising future research. Part 1: Context: History, Economy, and the Environment Part 2: Economic Transformations Part 3: Politics and Government Part 4: China on the Global Stage Part 5: China's Foreign Policy Part 6: National and Nested Identities Part 7: Urbanization and Spatial Development Part 8: Poverty and Inequality Part 9: Social Change Part 10: Future Directions for Contemporary China Studies
Atlas of China an expansive portrait of China today with more than 400 maps and illustrations by 
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