Sensitive Content Guidelines for Printing Books in China
At Ken the Book Printer, we work directly with our own main printing facility in China as one team. This close setup lets us deliver consistent, high-quality books at lower costs while ensuring compliance with local content rules.
These rules are set to protect the printing factories. As the creator, you won’t get in trouble, but the printer could lose its license if they print content that isn’t allowed. Knowing what’s acceptable will help your project move smoothly through production.
✅ What’s Usually Fine to Print
These types of books are generally safe to print and rarely require review:
- Children’s picture books
- Comics or graphic novels without sexual content
- Art books or photography books without nudity
- Educational or reference books (science, history, how-to)
- Novels and general fiction stories
English-language books that mention religion as part of the story are usually not a problem either, as long as they are not aimed at readers in China or trying to convert anyone.
⚠️ Content That Might Need Review
Some content may require pre-approval from the local printing bureau before production. In these cases, our factory can produce a proof copy and submit it for review. We charge $250 for the submission, which can be applied toward your order once it’s approved. We will review the content first, and generally it has a very high approval rate. The approval process usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks. Once it’s approved, full production can move forward safely.
- Books with realistic or partial nudity
- Graphic violence or horror-themed comics or novels
- Religious books that explain beliefs or history in depth
- Stories focused on religious figures or teachings
- Romance books with suggestive content (not hardcore)
- LGBTQ+ themed books
May Require Review
✅ Books That Are on the Border but Usually Safe
Some books may seem risky at first but are usually fine to print as long as they are not extreme or sexual. Examples include:
- Art books showing the human body in a non-sexual way
- Comics or graphic novels with mild mature jokes or suggestive scenes
- Stories that mention religious settings or symbols without teaching or converting
- History or culture books that briefly reference sensitive topics
- Educational books that discuss controversial topics neutrally
OK to Print
✅ Religious Journals and Devotionals
Religious-style journals, such as 31-day prayer journals or daily devotionals, are usually allowed. These books often include short quotes or summaries with space to write, rather than full scripture text. Because they are not considered complete religious texts, they can usually be printed as long as they are in English or another non-Chinese language and are not aimed at readers in China.
If a journal includes long scripture passages or heavy religious teaching, the factory may need to submit a proof copy for content review before printing. However, if a journal includes full scripture (such as the entire Bible or Quran with added writing lines), it would be treated as a complete religious text. Regular commercial printers in China are not licensed to print them.
OK to Print
⚠️ Maps and Border-Related Content
Maps can be treated as sensitive content in China when they show modern real-world country or regional borders. If your book includes a current map, it may need a quick review by the local printing bureau to make sure it follows local printing guidelines.
This mainly applies to world maps, country maps, atlases, educational maps, or any content that looks like a modern political map.
Fictional maps such as fantasy worlds or imaginary places are usually fine to print because they don’t reference real-world borders. Historical maps from older centuries are also generally allowed as long as they are clearly shown as part of historical context.
Tip: If your book includes maps, let us know early. We can double-check them and guide you through the process if any quick review is needed.
❌ Content That Cannot Be Printed
Some content is strictly prohibited under Chinese law. These projects cannot be submitted for approval and cannot be printed at all in China. This includes:
- Pornographic or sexually explicit content (like Playboy-style material)
- Complete religious scriptures or sacred texts (such as the Bible, Quran, or Torah)
- Material that directly challenges or criticizes local government policies
- Content banned by Chinese law or considered politically sensitive
If your project includes this type of content, please contact us. We may be able to arrange production through a local printing facility in the US as long as it does not violate local laws.
Cannot Be Printed
How We Support You
Our goal is to make the printing process simple and worry-free. We’re not here to judge your work. We just make sure it can be produced safely and on time. If we see anything that might cause issues, we’ll let you know before you spend money on printing. This way, you can plan ahead and avoid delays.
If you’re unsure about your content, just send it to us. We’ll review it and confirm what’s possible. Once everything is cleared, we’ll handle production from start to finish.
Contact us to get started on your book.