The article analyzes the requirements for foreign language textbooks in China. It seems that the textbook reflects the needs of society and the government in the field of training specialists who can speak in a foreign language. On the other hand, the textbook forms the worldview, embodies the values and norms existing in the country. An analysis of the requirements for foreign language textbooks in the PRC showed the dynamics in approaches to learning a foreign language from cross-cultural to practice-oriented, from recognition to activity.