China's books originally referred to classics, including books, picture books, pictures and other publications. Books in a broad sense refer to all kinds of reading materials, including Oracle Bone Inscriptions, epigraphy rubbings, hand scrolls, contemporary books and periodicals, newspapers, and even new technology products such as audio-visual materials, simple emblem films (volumes) and machine-readable catalogues.

Books are an important part of books and the general name of bound books.