The past 30 years have seen two dominant research orientations in China’s communication studies. One is strongly based in topical concerns such as media use and communication effects with an emphasis on quantitative research methods. The other takes an interest in overall observation of communication as social processes and the humane nature of human communication, often showing a qualitative orientation. The author proposes that communication scholars could move toward a relationship approach on communication studies as the approach seems to promise, arguably, an elevation of research qualities in the field of communication studies.