Aim.　This　paper　is　a　report　of　a　study　to　explore　Chinese　patients＇　and　partners＇　experiences　during　early　convalescence　from　a　first　heart　attack.　Background.　There　are　important　socio-cultural　differences　between　Chinese　and　western　populations　and　comparatively　little　is　known　about　the　experiences　of　Chinese　patients　and　partners　living　with　a　first　heart　attack.　Method.　A　qualitative　study　using　focus　groups　was　conducted　in　2005　with　17　Chinese　patients　and　their　partners　during　convalescence　from　a　first　heart　attack.　The　interviews　were　tape-recorded　and　transcribed.　Analysis　was　used　to　identify　categories　using　established　qualitative　phenomenological　techniques.　Findings.　Content　analysis　of　the　data　revealed　five　major　categories:　enduring　uncertainty;　coping　with　changes;　experiencing　emotional　reactions;　living　with　medications　and　needing　professional　help.　Conclusion.　The　experiences　of　Chinese　patients　and　partners　during　early　convalescence　from　a　first　heart　attack　are　different　from　their　western　counterparts　and　are　affected　by　cultural　traditions.　Findings　from　this　study　may　provide　useful　pointers　for　health　professionals　to　deliver　culturally　sensitive　and　appropriate　support　and　education　during　early　convalescence.