The Chinese economic “miracle” first inspired the admiration of all for a country that is still communist but understands how to gradually move toward capitalism. Today, however, China often inspires fear. Fear of the temptation of hegemony of the part of this giant who looks more and more ambitiously toward Africa. Fear of delocalisations to a country where labour is cheap and the domestic market is large. Fear of health issues: after SARS and bird flu, there have been poisoned toys and other tainted products “made in China” that have hit the headlines. In short, the Chinese economy is a worry and this worry stirs up the prejudices that we often have against China. This short work is intended to be a dispassionate introduction to China's economy that puts its economic achievements and failures into perspective in order to better understand the economic situation. How do Chinese economic reforms follow their slow path? What is China's real economic weight? What structural changes have been undertaken in China as a result of its economic growth? What degree of insertion in the world economy has it achieved? Can Chinese history and culture solve the present contradictions of the Chinese economy?