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MATTHEWS CHINA FUND  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading Matthews China Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock
Long-term capital appreciation.
Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock
This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy, hold and sell shares of this Fund. You may pay other fees, such as brokerage commissions and other fees to financial intermediaries, which are not reflected in the table and example below.
Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption SHAREHOLDER FEES (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption ANNUAL OPERATING EXPENSES (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading PORTFOLIO TURNOVER
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock
The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example of fund expenses, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 49% of the average value of its portfolio.
Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 49.00%
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading EXAMPLE OF FUND EXPENSES
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock
This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then sell all of your shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund’s operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategy
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock
Under normal circumstances, the Matthews China Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its net assets, which include borrowings for investment purposes, in the common and preferred stocks of companies located in China. China includes its administrative and other districts, such as Hong Kong. A company or other issuer is considered to be “located” in a country or a region, and a security or instrument is deemed to be an Asian (or specific country) security or instrument, if it has substantial ties to that country or region. Matthews currently makes that determination based primarily on one or more of the following criteria: (A) with respect to a company or issuer, whether (i) it is organized under the laws of that country or any country in that region; (ii) it derives at least 50% of its revenues or profits from goods produced or sold, investments made, or services performed, or has at least 50% of its assets located, within that country or region; (iii) it has the primary trading markets for its securities in that country or region; (iv) it has its principal place of business in or is 
otherwise headquartered in that country or region; or (v) it is a governmental entity or an agency, instrumentality or a political subdivision of that country or any country in that region; and (B) with respect to an instrument or issue, whether (i) its issuer is headquartered or organized in that country or region; (ii) it is issued to finance a project that has at least 50% of its assets or operations in that country or region; (iii) it is at least 50% secured or backed by assets located in that country or region; (iv) it is a component of or its issuer is included in the MSCI China Index, the Fund’s primary benchmark index; or (v) it is denominated in the currency of an Asian country and addresses at least one of the other above criteria. The term “located” and the associated criteria listed above have been defined in such a way that Matthews has latitude in determining whether an issuer should be included within a region or country. The Fund may also invest in depositary receipts, including American, European and Global Depositary Receipts. 
The Fund seeks to invest in companies capable of sustainable growth based on the fundamental characteristics of those companies, including balance sheet information; number of employees; size and stability of cash flow; management’s depth, adaptability and integrity; product lines; marketing strategies; corporate governance; and financial health. Matthews expects that the companies in which the Fund invests typically will be of medium or large size, but the Fund may invest in companies of any size. Matthews measures a company’s size with respect to fundamental criteria such as, but not limited to, market capitalization, book value, revenues, profits, cash flow, dividends paid and number of employees. The implementation of the principal investment strategies of the Fund may result in a significant portion of the Fund’s assets being invested from time to time in one or more sectors, but the Fund may invest in companies in any sector. 
Matthews may also take into consideration environmental, social and governance (ESG) characteristics of companies in selecting portfolio investments as part of the investment process for this Fund in an effort to reduce what it regards as the sustainability risks of its investments. Not all of the Fund’s investments will demonstrate those ESG characteristics, and there could be instances where Matthews is unable to assess the ESG characteristics of a company. Matthews’ investment process in this regard is carried out through a combination of exclusionary ESG screens and the use of both external and proprietary ESG data. Matthews uses various sources of information, including but not limited to third-party ESG rating firms and Matthews’ own analysis, in assessing a company’s ESG characteristics, which include, but are not limited to, an issuer’s use of natural resources and its impact on the natural environment; the impacts of an issuer on human and social capital, including employee welfare, human rights, health and safety, and product quality; and how an issuer’s board of directors ensures accountability, fairness and transparency in the issuer’s relationship with its stakeholders. Matthews will also employ a screening process utilizing third party data to help it exclude investments in corporate issuers that have a material exposure to certain business activities. As an example, this screening process may use various thresholds based on the percentage of revenue derived from (1) the production or sale of tobacco products, (2) controversial weapons (e.g., cluster munitions) or the production or military contracting for weapons, and (3) the exploration, extraction, or production of energy using certain fossil fuels, including 
thermal coal. The screening process is also used to help Matthews exclude companies that are in direct conflict with the goals of the UN Global Compact or the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. The ESG characteristics used by Matthews to identify or exclude potential investments may change from time to time. Once invested in a company, Matthews may engage with its portfolio companies on sustainability and governance matters through active dialogue, exercising shareholder rights and by encouraging enhanced ESG disclosure and implementation. 
Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Risks of Investment  
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock
There is no guarantee that your investment in the Fund will increase in value. The value of your investment in the Fund could go down, meaning you could lose money. The principal risks of investing in the Fund are: 
Political, Social and Economic Risks of Investing in Asia: The value of the Fund’s assets may be adversely affected by political, economic, social and religious instability; inadequate investor protection; changes in laws or regulations of countries within the Asian region (including countries in which the Fund invests, as well as the broader region); international relations with other nations; natural disasters; corruption and military activity. The economies of many Asian countries differ from the economies of more developed countries in many respects, such as rate of growth, inflation, capital reinvestment, resource self-sufficiency, financial system stability, the national balance of payments position and sensitivity to changes in global trade. 
Geopolitical Events Risk: The interconnectivity between global economies and financial markets increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one region or financial market may adversely impact issuers in a different country, region or financial market. Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform due to inflation (or expectations for inflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, natural disasters, climate change and climate-related events, pandemics, epidemics, terrorism, international conflicts, regulatory events and governmental or quasi-governmental actions. The occurrence of global events similar to those in recent years may result in market volatility and may have long term effects on the global financial markets.  
Currency Risk: When the Fund conducts securities transactions in a foreign currency, there is the risk of the value of the foreign currency increasing or decreasing against the value of the U.S. dollar. The value of an investment denominated in a foreign currency will decline in U.S. dollar terms if that currency weakens against the U.S. dollar. While the Fund is permitted to hedge currency risks, Matthews does not anticipate doing so at this time. Additionally, China may utilize formal or informal currency-exchange controls or “capital controls.” Capital controls may impose restrictions on the Fund’s ability to repatriate investments or income. Such controls may also affect the value of the Fund’s holdings. 
Risks Associated with Emerging Markets: Many Asian countries are considered emerging markets. Such markets are often less stable politically and economically than developed markets such as the United States, and investing in these markets involves different and greater risks. There may be less publicly available information about companies in many Asian countries, and the stock exchanges and brokerage industries in
many Asian countries typically do not have the level of government oversight as do those in the United States. Securities markets of many Asian countries are also substantially smaller, less liquid and more volatile than securities markets in the United States. Additionally, investors may have substantial difficulties bringing legal actions to enforce or protect investors’ rights, which can increase the risks of loss. 
Risks Associated with China and Hong Kong: The Chinese government exercises significant control over China’s economy through its industrial policies (e.g., allocation of resources and other preferential treatment), monetary policy, management of currency exchange rates, and management of the payment of foreign currency- denominated obligations. Changes in these policies could adversely impact affected industries or companies in China. China’s economy, particularly its export-oriented industries, may be adversely impacted by trade or political disputes with China’s major trading partners, including the U.S. In addition, as its consumer class continues to grow, China’s domestically oriented industries may be especially sensitive to changes in government policy and investment cycles. As demonstrated by Hong Kong protests in recent years over political, economic, and legal freedoms, and the Chinese government’s response to them, considerable political uncertainty continues to exist within Hong Kong. Due to the interconnected nature of the Hong Kong and Chinese economies, this instability in Hong Kong may cause uncertainty in the Hong Kong and Chinese markets. If China were to exert its authority so as to alter the economic, political or legal structures or the existing social policy of Hong Kong, investor and business confidence in Hong Kong could be negatively affected and have an adverse effect on the Fund’s investments. 
Growth Stock Risk: Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because they are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company’s growth potential. Growth stocks may go in and out of favor over time and may perform differently than the market as a whole. 
Equity Securities Risk: Equity securities may include common stock, preferred stock or other securities representing an ownership interest or the right to acquire an ownership interest in an issuer. Equity risk is the risk that stocks and other equity securities generally fluctuate in value more than bonds and may decline in value over short or extended periods. The value of stocks and other equity securities may be affected by changes in an issuer’s financial condition, factors that affect a particular industry or industries, or as a result of changes in overall market, economic and political conditions that are not specifically related to a company or industry. 
Preferred Stock Risk: Preferred stock normally pays dividends at a specified rate and has precedence over common stock in the event the issuer is liquidated or declares bankruptcy. However, in the event a company is liquidated or declares bankruptcy, the claims of owners of bonds take precedence over the claims of those who own preferred and common stock. If interest rates rise, the dividend on preferred stocks may be less attractive, causing the price of such stocks to decline. 
Depositary Receipts Risk: Although depositary receipts have risks similar to the securities that they represent, they may also involve higher expenses and may trade at a discount (or premium) to the underlying security. In addition, deposi- 
tary receipts may not pass through voting and other shareholder rights, and may be less liquid than the underlying securities listed on an exchange. 
Volatility Risk: The smaller size and lower levels of liquidity in emerging markets, as well as other factors, may result in changes in the prices of Asian securities that are more volatile than those of companies in more developed regions. This volatility can cause the price of the Fund’s shares to go up or down dramatically. Because of this volatility, this Fund is better suited for long-term investors (typically five years or longer).  
ESG Investing Risk: Because the Fund may take into consideration the environmental, social and governance characteristics of portfolio companies in which it may invest, the Fund may select or exclude securities of certain issuers for reasons other than potential performance. The Fund’s consideration of ESG characteristics in making its investment decisions may reduce or increase the Fund’s exposure to certain issuers, industries, sectors, regions or countries or cause the Fund to forego certain investment opportunities which may lower the performance of the Fund as compared to funds that do not utilize these considerations. Consideration of ESG characteristics is qualitative and subjective by nature, and there is no guarantee that the criteria used by Matthews or any judgment exercised by Matthews will reflect the opinions of any particular investor. Although an investment by the Fund in a company may satisfy one or more ESG and sustainability factors in the view of the portfolio managers, there is no guarantee that such company actually promotes positive environmental, social or economic developments, and that same company may also fail to satisfy other ESG factors. In addition, Matthews may utilize third party data to evaluate ESG factors which may be incomplete or inaccurate and cause Matthews to incorrectly assess the ESG characteristics a security or issuer. Funds with ESG investment strategies are generally suited for long-term rather than short-term investors. 
Active Management Risk: The Fund is actively managed by Matthews. There is the risk that Matthews may select securities that underperform the relevant stock market(s), the Fund’s benchmark index or other funds with similar investment objectives and investment strategies. 
Sector Concentration Risk: To the extent that the Fund emphasizes, from time to time, investments in a particular sector, the Fund will be subject to a greater degree to the risks particular to that sector, including the sector described below. Market conditions, interest rates, and economic, regulatory, or financial developments could significantly affect a single sector. By focusing its investments in a particular sector, the Fund may face more risks than if it were diversified broadly over numerous sectors. 
–   Consumer Discretionary Sector Risk: As of December 31, 2022, 38% of the Fund’s assets were invested in the consumer discretionary sector. The success of consumer product manufacturers and retailers is tied closely to the performance of the overall local and international economies, interest rates, competition and consumer confidence. Success of companies in the consumer discretionary sector depends heavily on disposable household income and consumer spending. Changes in demographics and consumer tastes can also affect the demand for, and success of, consumer products and services in the marketplace. 
Cybersecurity Risk: With the increased use of technologies such as the internet to conduct business, the Fund is susceptible to operational, information security, and related risks. Cyber incidents affecting the Fund or its service providers may cause disruptions and impact business operations, potentially resulting in financial losses, interference with the Fund’s abil- 
ity to calculate its NAV, impediments to trading, the inability of shareholders to transact business, violations of applicable privacy and other laws, regulatory fines, penalties, reputational damage, reimbursement or other compensation costs, or additional compliance costs. 
Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney The value of your investment in the Fund could go down, meaning you could lose money.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Past Performance
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock
The bar chart below shows the Fund’s performance for the past 10 years and how it has varied from year to year, reflective of the Fund’s volatility and some indication of risk. Also shown are the best and worst quarters for this time period. The table below shows the Fund’s performance over certain periods of time, along with performance of the MSCI China Index, its primary benchmark index, and the MSCI China All Shares Index, its secondary benchmark index. The information presented below is past performance, before and after taxes, and is not a prediction of future results. Both the bar chart and performance table assume reinvestment of all dividends and distributions. For the Fund’s most recent month‑end performance, please visit matthewsasia.com or call 800.789.ASIA (2742).
Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The bar chart below shows the Fund’s performance for the past 10 years and how it has varied from year to year, reflective of the Fund’s volatility and some indication of risk.
Performance Additional Market Index [Text] rr_PerformanceAdditionalMarketIndex The table below shows the Fund’s performance over certain periods of time, along with performance of the MSCI China Index, its primary benchmark index, and the MSCI China All Shares Index, its secondary benchmark index.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800.789.ASIA (2742)
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress matthewsasia.com
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture The information presented below is past performance, before and after taxes, and is not a prediction of future results.
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading INVESTOR CLASS: ANNUAL RETURNS FOR YEARS ENDED 12/31
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock Best Quarter Q1 2019 24.08% Worst Quarter Q3 2022 -25.57%
Performance Table Heading rr_PerformanceTableHeading AVERAGE ANNUAL TOTAL RETURNS FOR PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2022
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After‑tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred Actual after‑tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After‑tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax‑deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
MATTHEWS CHINA FUND | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Account Fee on Redemptions (for wire redemptions only) rr_MaximumAccountFee $ 9
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.67%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Administration and Shareholder Servicing Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.16%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.45%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.12%
One year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 114
Three years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 356
Five years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 617
Ten years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,363
2013 rr_AnnualReturn2013 6.84%
2014 rr_AnnualReturn2014 (4.42%)
2015 rr_AnnualReturn2015 2.41%
2016 rr_AnnualReturn2016 (5.18%)
2017 rr_AnnualReturn2017 59.37%
2018 rr_AnnualReturn2018 (21.42%)
2019 rr_AnnualReturn2019 34.56%
2020 rr_AnnualReturn2020 43.05%
2021 rr_AnnualReturn2021 (12.26%)
2022 rr_AnnualReturn2022 (24.40%)
Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Mar. 31, 2019
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 24.08%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2022
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (25.57%)
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (24.40%)
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.07%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.72%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 8.45%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 19, 1998
MATTHEWS CHINA FUND | Institutional Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Account Fee on Redemptions (for wire redemptions only) rr_MaximumAccountFee $ 9
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.67%
Distribution (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Administration and Shareholder Servicing Fees rr_Component1OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.16%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.31%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.98%
One year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 $ 100
Three years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 312
Five years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 542
Ten years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 $ 1,201
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (24.31%)
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 0.23%
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 4.88%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.07% [1]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Oct. 29, 2010
MATTHEWS CHINA FUND | Return after taxes on distributions | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (25.62%) [2]
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.98%) [2]
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.40% [2]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.92% [2]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 19, 1998 [2]
MATTHEWS CHINA FUND | Return after taxes on distributions and sale of Fund shares | Investor Class  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (13.52%) [2]
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 none [2]
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 3.35% [2]
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 6.98% [2]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 19, 1998 [2]
MATTHEWS CHINA FUND | MSCI China Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (21.80%)
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (4.40%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 2.62%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 3.25% [3]
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate Feb. 28, 1998
MATTHEWS CHINA FUND | MSCI China All Shares Index (reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes)  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (23.47%)
5 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (2.61%)
10 years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception [4]
[1]
Because the inception date of the Institutional Class is later than that of the Index returns shown, the since-inception performance of the Institutional Class is not directly comparable to the performance of the Index.
[2]
After‑tax returns are calculated using the highest historical individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after‑tax returns depend on an investor’s tax situation and may differ from those shown. After‑tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax‑deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
[3]
Calculated from 2/28/98.
[4]
Index performance data prior to 11/25/08 is not available.