Since the 1990s, contemporary Chinese ecological literature has increasingly focused on exposing and reflecting upon China’s environmental issues. Through both text and imagery, writers construct ecological representations that significantly influence and shape readers’ perceptions of China’s ecological challenges. While previous academic discussions have primarily concentrated on how contemporary ecological literature describes and addresses these issues, less attention has been given to the intuitive and visual elements of ecological imagination, such as those found in book covers and illustrations. Ecological image construction in these works can be understood through three key dimensions. First, it emphasizes the environmental threats posed by pollution, particularly in light of China’s economic and social progress since the reform and opening-up period, highlighting the tension between industrial development and environmental protection. Second, it situates China within the global context of ecological concerns, illustrating China’s ecological issues in relation to the broader process of globalization since the 1980s, and exploring commonalities with Western ecological struggles. Third, it narrates the history of China’s ecological protection and transformation, showing how, under the leadership of the Party and the state, the country has pursued a distinct path to modernization while addressing environmental challenges.