Israel Epstein was born in Poland in 1915. Beginning from 1931 he did press work at the "Beijing-Tianjin Times". He served as reporter with UPI of the United States in 1937.

　　In 1939, he joined the League in Defense of China sponsored and organized by Soong Ching Ling, in which he was in charge of publicity work. During the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, when serving as a correspondent of the United Press and the Allied Labor News of the United States, Epstein visited North Shaanxi Province and Shanxi-Suiyuan Anti-Japanese Base Areas, and interviewed Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other CPC leaders, along with a delegation of Chinese and foreign reporters.

　　In 1951, in response to the invitation of Soong Ching Ling, he returned to China to participate in the work of starting publication of "China Reconstruct" .

　　In 1957 he was granted China's citizenship. During his lifetime, he was standing committee member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), honorary editor-in-chief of the "China Today", former "China Reconstruct", vice-chairman of the International Council of the China Industry Cooperation Association and member of the China Welfare Council, etc. His major books include "From Opium War to Liberation," "The People's War," "The Unfinished Revolution in China" and "Tibet Transformed."

Epstein is writing (taken in 1985).



A stone plate half-body figure of Mao Zedong with Mao's autograph was the treasure of Epstein.. Mao Zedong presented the figure to Epstein in Yan'an.


Epstein (left) and the other two foreign journalists go deep into the northwestern Shanxi Province to gather news.


Mao Zedong meets with 6 foreign journalists including Epstein (2^nd from right in the front row) at Zaoyuan in Yan'an in 1944.



Mao Zedong, Zhu De, Zhou Enlai and other CPC leaders meet with Epstein (4^th from right of the front row) and the other members of the "Chinese and foreign journalists delegation to northwest China" in Yan'an.


Epstein in Yan'an in 1944.



Epstein and his wife Elsie Fairfax-Cholmeley in Beijing in 1951.



This is a group photo of Epstein (1^st left) and Soong Ching-ling (middle) and the members of the Central Committee of the "League in Defense of China" under Soong's leadership taken in Hong Kang in 1938.