Born in 1948 in Los Angeles, California, Mark Levine is now a singer, songwriter and English teacher. Though an American by birth, he knows China more than one could ever imagine. He said his new book and all his songs were created to show people what China is really like. In 2014, Levine received the Chinese Government's Friendship Award, China's highest award for foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the country's economic and social progress.