The overseas publication of China-themed books plays a crucial role in promoting Chinese culture, enhancing international communication, and shaping China’s national image. As the largest economy in Latin America and an important member of both the G20 and BRICS, Brazil is not only China’s largest trade partner in the region but also a strategic partner in China’s global cooperation with developing countries. This paper examines the publication trends, thematic categories, publishing institutions, and translation modes of China-themed books in Brazil using the online catalog of the National Library of Brazil. By employing keywords such as “China, ” “Chinese, ” “Chinese politics, ” and “Chinese economy, ” the research collected detailed information on all printed China-themed books published and circulated in Brazil between 1990 and 2022. The findings offer a comprehensive analysis of the status quo of China-themed books in Brazil and the challenges faced by them. The analysis across three-decade periods shows a phased development pattern in the publication of China-themed books in Brazil, characterized by initial growth, rapid expansion, and fluctuating decline. These trends reflect not only Brazil’s domestic political and economic conditions but also global economic changes and the evolving dynamics of China-Brazil diplomatic relations. Thematically, China-themed books published in Brazil primarily focus on the areas such as literature, philosophy, religion, and traditional Chinese medicine, with a strong preference for practical books. In contrast, books on contemporary Chinese society and culture are underrepresented. The publishing landscape is marked by a large number of publishers with diverse characteristics, resulting in scattered publication volumes but concentrated thematic focuses. Additionally, the translation approach for Chinese books in Brazil has gradually developed from indirect to direct translation. Based on this analysis, several challenges are identified for the publication of China-themed books in Brazil. First, the volume of such publications is significantly affected by Brazil’s domestic political environment. Second, the thematic scope of these books remains limited, lacking diversity. Third, cooperation between Chinese and Brazilian publishers is still in its early stages and requires further reinforcement. Fourth, the shortage of scholars in Chinese studies and professional translators hinders the publication and dissemination of the high-quality books. To address these challenges, the study proposes a multilayered action system involving governments, publishing institutions, and translation experts. Specifically, the first step is to strengthen and improve the long-term mechanisms for cultural exchange and cooperation between the governments of both countries. Second, it is essential to encourage Chinese and Brazilian publishing institutions to collaborate on building a stable, long-term, and efficient network. Third, a diversified publishing strategy should be implemented to expand the topics coverage of China-themed books. This includes continuing to promote China’s classical works and localizing them to align with the cultural context of Brazilian readers, while also strengthening the publication of books that reflect China’s social transformations, development achievements, and contemporary realities. Such efforts will provide Brazilian readers with a more comprehensive understanding of Chinese modernization and a more complete, authentic view of contemporary China. Finally, dedicated initiatives should be undertaken to develop bilingual translation talent proficient in Chinese and Portuguese, with an emphasis on cultivating scholars in Chinese studies and highly skilled translators. In conclusion, implementing these strategies will promote the high-quality publication and dissemination of China-themed books in Brazil, enhance China’s national image, and deepen cultural exchange and mutual learning between the two nations.