Abstract: Teaching the outline of modern Chinese history with the “big history concept” helps to broaden the historical perspective and trace the deep crisis and existential dilemma suffered by modern China to the political and economic system as well as the cultural and ideological arrangement of China in the Ming and Qing Dynasties; it helps to explain clearly the historical twists and turns, practical experience and future development of China’s modernization; and it helps young college students to deepen their understanding of China’s modernization and its history. It also helps young college students to deepen their comprehensive understanding and awareness of the major themes, historical tasks and “four choices” of modern Chinese history.