Cognitive equivalence in translation refers to the similar or same cognitive effects on the target language readers as those experienced by the source language readers. Since cultural metaphors are frequently used in CPC literature to elaborate China’s ideas, visions and solutions, the cognitive effects of their English translations directly influence Chinese national image construction, value recognition, and dissemination of Chinese culture. With corpus collected from Xi Jinping: The Governance of China, this paper addresses the approaches, translation strategies, and principles of cognitive equivalence in the translation of cultural metaphors in CPC literature in four dimensions: conceptual cognition, contextual cognition, cultural cognition, and political cognition. It aims to shed new light on the translation and dissemination of CPC literature and Chinese culture.