Science and technology not only are vehicles to build a modern state, but also serve impetus for economic development in many countries. In China, the development of science has intertwined with the transformation from self-reliance to an integrated node of global economy, and from planned to market economy. We will use science and technology as a lens to analyze China’s resent social changes from Mao era to post-Mao years. Utilizing interdisciplinary research, we will critically exam the concepts and practices of development, innovation, and science and technology. The course design also includes field trips to key sites of innovations in China, including museums for Chinese medicine, IT and biotech companies, and makers’ lab in Shenzhen.