Abstract: The translation of Chinese literary classics can better carry forward the fine tradition of the Chinese nation, strengthen China's cultural soft power, and promote east-west cultural exchanges and understanding. Due to the absence of audience awareness, the translation of Chinese literary classics is experiencing difficulty in going abroad. In essence, it is an intercultural and interlingual process of information dissemination, in which the audience is an influencing factor. With Sir John Francis Davis' translation of The Fortunate Union as an example, the paper, considering the social and historical environment of the translator, examines the function of audience awareness in Davis' translating Chinese literary classics through close reading. Only by analyzing carefully the types and receptive motives of audience and selecting topics for publication and translation strategies accordingly can translators with their audience awareness be successful in promoting Chinese literature's going abroad.