Cao Xueqin books in order
Chinese novelist and poet
- Born
- 1724
- Country
- China
- Books
- 7
- Also writes as
- 曹雪芹
Cao Xueqin has published 7 novels, beginning with Dream of the Red Chamber (1792).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Cao Xueqin
Start here
Dream of the Red Chamber
Cao Xueqin's most-read book.
Cao Xueqin books in order of publication
Dream of the Red Chamber, 1st Cheng-Gao Edition (1791)
Dream of the Red Chamber (1792)
Hung Lou Meng (1962)
The Golden Days (1974)
The Story of the Stone (1977)
A Dream of Red Mansions (1986)
Hung Lou Meng Book 1 (2016)
Film and TV adaptations
- Dream of the Red Chamber (1987)TV · from Dream of the Red Chamber
- A Dream of Red Mansions (1988)TV · from Dream of the Red Chamber
- The Dream of Red MansionsTV · from Dream of the Red Chamber
- Dream of the Red ChamberTV · from Dream of the Red Chamber
About Cao Xueqin
Cao Xueqin was a Chinese novelist and poet during the Qing dynasty. He is best known as the author of Dream of the Red Chamber, one of the Four Great Classical Novels of Chinese literature. His given name was Cao Zhan (曹霑) and his courtesy name was Mengruan.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Cao Xueqin FAQ
- How many books has Cao Xueqin written?
- Cao Xueqin has published 7 novels that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Cao Xueqin's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with Dream of the Red Chamber.
- What is Cao Xueqin's latest book?
- Dream of the Red Chamber (1792).
- What is Cao Xueqin's most famous book?
- Dream of the Red Chamber (1792) is Cao Xueqin's most widely read book.
- Does Cao Xueqin write under a pen name?
- Yes: Cao Xueqin has also published as 曹雪芹.
- Which Cao Xueqin books have been adapted?
- 1 book has been adapted for film or TV, including Dream of the Red Chamber (TV, 1987).
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.