Abstract: China’s modernization practice has not only embarked on a new road different from the modernization of capitalism, but also transcends the relationship between socialism and modernization; this is especially reflected on the cultural dimension of the 70 years practice of socialist modernization in New China. From the perspective of the history of concept generation, the concept of culture has the inherent tension of nationality, class and regionality, and it is symbiotic with the modernization process. At present, the western modernization road has fallen into a cultural predicament to a certain extent, while China’s modernization practice has formed a culture logic of cosmopolitan, affinity to the people, and universality on the basis of adhering to the reality of the country and focusing on the interests of the people and independence. The cultural logic constitutes the cultural essence of China’s socialist modernization, to a certain extent; it breaks the cultural predicament of the Western modernization road, which is of great significance in the development of human society.

Key words: China’s modernization practice; socialist modernization; culture; western modernization road