China Mission: A Personal History from the Last Imperial Dynasty to the People's Republic
SKU: 7772440189

China Mission: A Personal History from the Last Imperial Dynasty to the People's Republic

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China Mission: A Personal History from the Last Imperial Dynasty to the People's RepublicWhen the Reverend Halvor Ronning, his sister Thea, and fellow missionary Hannah Rorem set out in 1891 to found a Lutheran mission and school in the interior of China, they could not have foreseen the ways in which that decision would ripple across generations of the Ronning family. Halvor and Hannah would marry, and their son Chester, born in Hubei Province in 1894, would spend over half his life in China as a student, teacher, and a Canadian

When the Reverend Halvor Ronning, his sister Thea, and fellow missionary Hannah Rorem set out in 1891 to found a Lutheran mission and school in the interior of China, they could not have foreseen the ways in which that decision would ripple across generations of the Ronning family. Halvor and Hannah would marry, and their son Chester, born in Hubei Province in 1894, would spend over half his life in China as a student, teacher, and a Canadian diplomat. Chester's daughter, Audrey, studied at Nanking University during the Chinese Civil War and later spent decades reporting on the People's Republic of China for the New York Times, Foreign Affairs, and many other publications. During the last century, Audrey Topping notes, a member of our family was there for almost every event of importance. China Mission presents a personal history of her family's ties to their adopted home and the momentous events that radically changed one of the most powerful countries in the world.
The Ronnings found Imperial China at the end of the nineteenth century to be a nation on the cusp of change, and they were swept up as both observers and participants in these dramatic events. During their years as missionaries, the Ronnings witnessed the Boxer Uprising in 1898, the subsequent Palace Coup and the Siege of Peking, the death of the last emperor, and the collapse of China's dynasty system. They also endured personal challenges -- famine, births, deaths, and the almost constant threat of attack -- that were countered with songs, celebrations, friendship, and a deep appreciation for the culture of which they had become a part.
Later, Chester Ronning would return to China, as would his daughter Audrey, bringing their family's story to the end of the twentieth century. This extraordinary account, compiled from the diaries, letters, and photographs of three generations, offers modern readers a rare and remarkable look at a world long gone.



Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Louisiana State University Press
Published: 10/07/2013
ISBN: 9780807152782
Pages: 364
Weight: 1.83lbs
Size: 9.48h x 6.41w x 1.47d
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SKU: 7772440189

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Jennie Smith
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 3
Nice for cooling but not so cool with staying on the bed
Color: Black Pinstripe, Size: King(108"x90")
Definitely cooled while sleeping however due to the silky fabric it did not stay on the bed and often ended up on the floor by morning.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 7, 2026
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MamaRagu
Massapequa, US
★★★★★ 4
Pretty nice blanket
First off I have to say that this is not exactly a cooling blanket. It is true that when you first get under it, it does feel cool. Shortly thereafter though, wherever the blanket makes contact with you it warms up to your body temperature, so it doesn’t remain cool. Still, I just moved my foot to a different area and hit a cool pocket, so it has its moments. I have to say I really like the weight of this blanket. It’s so hard to find a good blanket, that is not that thick, It is thin, which is exactly what I was looking for since I live in Florida. One side of the blanket is the “cooling“ side which is plain gray, and on the other side is a gray and white striped pattern. I’m not really crazy about the pattern to be honest. I wish this blanket came in more colors or patterns. The blanket fit my queen bed nicely - not too big or too small. For what it is, I’m not really sure I would say it’s good value for the money, but I do like this blanket.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2026
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sierra
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Surprisingly, effective cooling blanket
When I first saw this cooling blanket available, I grabbed one right away. I had purchased a cooling blanket for my grandfather last summer that was fantastic but very expensive, so I was curious whether this one would actually compare considering the price difference. Right out of the package, I could immediately feel that it was different from a normal comforter. The fabric itself feels noticeably cool when you touch it, which honestly caught me off guard in a good way. The gray version I have features a striped design on one side and a solid gray color on the reverse. I love that it isn’t just plain white like so many cooling blankets tend to be. The pattern adds some visual interest while still matching pretty much any bedroom setup. The fabric is incredibly soft and smooth against the skin. The brand says it’s made with Ice Toweling technology fabric, which supposedly works by absorbing body heat through the fibers’ molecular structure. I’m not totally sure how that works scientifically, but I can definitely tell you the result is real because the blanket does feel cooler when you sleep under it. Something else I appreciate is that despite being silky smooth, it doesn’t constantly slide off the bed. I was expecting it to behave like a satin sheet, but it actually stays in place surprisingly well and its true to size. Cleaning is straightforward. They recommend air drying the blanket to preserve the cooling fibers, which seems like a reasonable precaution. I would probably treat it like a delicate fabric just to keep it in good shape long term. All things considered, I’m really impressed with this blanket. It’s soft, comfortable, genuinely cooling, and a great value compared to some of the pricey alternatives out there. If you tend to overheat while sleeping, this is definitely worth considering.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2026
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Laura krueger
Houston, US
★★★★★ 5
The price was great
Style: Original, Size: Standard/Queen
I couldn’t believe how comfortable they are
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Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2026
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Mark G
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 4
Stay Puft
Style: Original, Size: Standard/Queen
Cooler than most pillows and doesn’t go flat. Still gets warm throughout the night.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2025

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