English for specific purposes (ESP) coursebooks compiled by writers in the People's Republic of China are described. Eight textbooks are examined focusing on their common features in terms of reading passages, reliance upon Chinese language, focus upon the Chinese environment, emphasis upon structural grammar, focus upon vocabulary, rhetorical modes of passages, exercise types, and skills emphasis. The major similarities are that all eight are reading translation texts, all emphasize vocabulary and sentence level grammar, and all defer to the needs of China and its students. These similarities may be due to the belief of Chinese scholars that there is a need for Chinese specific ESP materials. There are fewer differences than similarities among the texts. The differences are in terms of selection and gradation of grammatical items, vocabulary choices, topic appeal and categories, and use of visuals. (RW)