Beyond the Great Wall: One Westerner’s Journey into the Heart of China By George Jaeggi | Based on A White Man’s China

When George Jaeggi first set foot in China in 2005, he thought he knew what to expect—rows of factories, a rigid political system, and the cultural stereotypes he’d seen in headlines. What he discovered instead was something far more layered, more intimate, and more human than he could have imagined.

In his memoir A White Man’s China, Jaeggi offers readers a rare invitation into a deeply personal journey—one that spans over 50 trips and 800 days across sprawling metropolises and hidden towns, opulent banquets and back-alley markets, formal boardrooms and karaoke bars.

What begins as a business trip quickly transforms into a soul-expanding cultural awakening. Xiamen, a coastal city in Fujian province, becomes his entry point—its beauty rivaling that of San Diego, and its people introducing him to both generosity and grit. From there, the book stretches through iconic landmarks like the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army to lesser-known treasures like the round houses of the Hakka people​.

But Jaeggi’s story isn’t just about sightseeing or manufacturing contracts. It’s about bridging worlds. As a Swiss-American entrepreneur, he navigates the complex dance of Chinese business etiquette, learns the subtleties of “face,” and discovers that trust—earned over shared meals, card games, and heartfelt stories—matters more than any contract​.

What makes this memoir compelling is not just where it takes us, but how Jaeggi tells the story. With humility and humor, he dissects his early missteps, cultural assumptions, and the occasional food-related adventure (yes, there’s a “shake test” to see if dinner is still moving). Yet, there’s no condescension, no superiority—just the perspective of a curious traveler learning to see, listen, and appreciate​.

He reminds us that China is not a monolith, but a vast mosaic of people, places, dialects, and dreams. And in today’s climate of political tension and cultural misunderstanding, A White Man’s China is a timely reminder that the best way to understand a country is not through soundbites, but stories. Real, lived-in stories.

For entrepreneurs, global thinkers, and anyone hungry for cross-cultural understanding, Jaeggi’s memoir is a heartfelt, grounded, and surprisingly entertaining guide into the soul of modern China.