Are you curious to know the fun facts about China! So here, we have a long list of interesting facts about China and its culture. But before diving into knowing interesting facts about China, let’s first know a little about China.
China, officially known as the People’s Republic of China, is a country located in East Asia. It is the world’s most populous country, with a population of over 1.44 billion people and covering an area of around 9.6 million square kilometers. The country’s capital is Beijing, and Shanghai is its largest city.
Let’s dive deep into the 25 Amazing and interesting facts about China.
25 Amazing and Interesting Facts About China
1. China Is the World’s Most Populous Country
China is the most populous country globally, with a population of over 1.4 billion people. It is also the largest country in the whole of Asia.
It covers the entire East Asian continent and accounts for around one-quarter of the Earth’s land area. China holds the world record for having the world’s largest population.
2. China Legally Owns Every Giant Panda in the World
Pandas are the adorable, fluffy, round black and white animals that we’ve all spent countless hours watching videos on YouTube. However, one truth about them that may not be as well known as others is that China may own practically all of its giant pandas.
The term “panda diplomacy” has been used to describe any panda found outside China. China is known to loan pandas to countries it wishes to foster good relations.
3. Chinese Language Mandarin (The Official Language) Is the Most Spoken Language in the World
More people speak Mandarin Chinese as their first language than any other language or dialect.
There are over 800 million Mandarin speakers, while the other 1.2 billion people speak other Chinese dialects. China’s official language is Standard Chinese (Mandarin).
4. China Has the Most Significant Proportion of Atheists in The World
The Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) are officially atheists, and China boasts the world’s most significant irreligious populace.
According to Gallup International, about 67% population of China doesn’t believe in any religion.
5. China Has the World’s Largest Economy
China has the world’s largest purchasing power parity GDP, the second-largest economy in terms of nominal GDP, and the second-richest country.
The country is the world’s largest producer and exporter and one of the fastest developing global economies.
China is a nuclear-weapons state, with the world’s most significant military workforce and the world’s second-highest defense expenditure. It also produces the most concrete, steel, fertilizer, textiles, and toys globally.
6. All Popular Social Networking Sites Are Banned in China
You will be surprised to know that popular networking sites like Whatsapp, Facebook, and Instagram are banned in China. Even they don’t use Google as a search engine to connect to the internet.
They have their search engine Baidu as well as messaging and entertainment apps like WeChat, TikTok, and many more.
7. After Russia, Canada, and The United States, China is the World’s Fourth-Largest Country
It is the world’s fourth-largest country, covering around 9.6 million square kilometers (3,700,000 square miles) after Russia, Canada, and the United States.
China surrounds 14 nations and covers five time zones, the second most country across the globe besides Russia.
The country has 23 provinces, 5 autonomous states, 4 municipalities, and 2 Special Administrative territories. Beijing is the country’s capital, and Shanghai is its largest city.
8. Chopsticks Were Originally Made for Cooking, Not Eating
Chopsticks have been around for 4000 years; however, they were initially designed for cooking rather than eating. They came in handy when grabbing hot things out of the pot, so they started using chopsticks as eating utensils instead of using them for cooking. Every year, the Chinese consume 45 billion chopsticks.
9. Ketchup Is a Chinese Word for Pickled Fish Sauce
Ketchup is a Chinese word for pickled fish sauce as originally, there wasn’t any tomato in it, and it was made from anchovies, mushrooms, and garlic in salted fish brine.
10. China Is Home to Asia’s Longest River Yangtze River
The Yangtze River is China’s longest river. The Yangtze River is more than 6,300 kilometers long (3,900 miles). It is Asia’s longest river.
The Yangtze River, which flows across central China, is one of the country’s most important rivers. It contributed significantly to China’s socio-economic development.
11. Fortune Cookies Were Not Originated from China
Fortune cookies were not invented in China. Fortune cookies are sweet and crispy. Flour, sugar, vanilla, and sesame seed oil are common ingredients. Inside is a piece of paper with a “fortune” written on it, either a proverb or a hazy forecast.
Although you may identify fortune cookies with China’s obsession with luck, they originated in San Francisco, United States.
12. The Great Wall of China Is the Largest Human-Made Architecture in The World
The Great Wall of China, the world’s longest man-made construction, is located 45 miles northwest of Beijing, 13,000 miles long, and serves as a symbol of ancient Chinese civilizations.
All of its 13,000 miles weren’t built at once; the wall was built during the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BCE) by the First Emperor Shi Huangdi (221-210 BCE) and continues to involve over 20 dynasties over more than 2000 years. The Chinese people call it Wang Lee Chang Chong, which means the endless wall.
13. Mount Everest, the World’s Tallest Mountain, Is Located Between China and Nepal
Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain, is located between China and Nepal. They jointly share the borders of an 8,848.86 m (29,031.7 ft) tall mountain.
It gets even taller every year by 2 inches because of the tectonic plate movement. Over the last 26,000 years, it is grown by a mile.
14. Soccer Was First Invented in China
The game ‘Tsu Chu,’ which translates to ‘kicking a ball’, known as Soccer in today’s modern world, was first invented in China around the second or third century BCE.
A leather ball stuffed with feathers and hair was the world’s first soccer ball.
15. China’s Railway Lines Are So Long They Could Circle the Globe Twice
You will be surprised to know that China’s railway lines are so long that they can circle the globe twice. China’s high-speed rail system (HSR) construction began in the early 2000s.
China’s high-speed rail network will have grown to 37,900 kilometers (23,550 miles) by 2020, making it the world’s most extended HSR network.
16. the People’s Republic of China Is the Official Name of Modern China
The People’s Republic of China was founded on 1 January 1912, with Sun of the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) as provisional president. China is a one-party nation led by China Communist Party, making it one of the surprising facts about China.
In 2021, The people’s Republic of China celebrated its 100th anniversary.
17. China Has the World’s Highest Number of Unesco Heritage Sites Alongside Italy
China is home to the highest number of UNESCO Heritage sites and Italy. The Forbidden City in Beijing, the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace in Beijing, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing, and the world-famous Terracotta Army are among China’s most visited UNESCO sites.
18. China Has the Most Towering Statues in the World
China boasts 35 of the world’s total 130 largest statues, the most of any country. India comes in second with 25 statues. It is no wonder that many of the 130 statues feature Buddha, who was born in India and Buddhism is one of China’s most popular religions.
The Spring Temple Buddha in Henan, China, stands 128 meters (420 feet) tall and is the world’s second-largest statue.
19. in China, There Are Lucky and Unlucky Numbers
You will be surprised to know that China believes in the concept of lucky and unlucky numbers. It is one of the most surprising and interesting facts about China.
Most of the buildings in China don’t have the 4th floor as the number 4 is considered to be an unlucky number as its pronunciation is associated with death.
While the number 8 is considered to be a lucky number. Generally, the apartments on the 8th floor of the building are one of the most expensive out of all the apartments.
20. Chinese People Were the First Ones to Use Paper Money
It is one of the astonishing facts about China that paper money was first invented in China in the 11th century CE during the Song Dynasty, almost 20 centuries after the first documented use of metal currencies.
21. Toilet Paper Was Invented in China
The ancient Chinese were the first to use toilet paper. Additionally, the first toilet papers were made from bamboo and cotton. In the past, though, only emperors used toilet paper. That’s one of those interesting facts about China.
22. Every Five Days, China Establishes a New Skyscraper
China is the fastest-growing country in the world. China constructs at least 73 new skyscrapers each year, with some of them being the tallest structures in the world.
23. The Chinese Zodiac Consists Of 12 Animals
Sheng Xiao (literally “born like”) is the Chinese zodiac. It depicts 12 different animals in the following order: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. The 12 animals are part of a cycle that repeats every 12 lunar years.
24. China Has a Fascinating Elderly Rights Law
In China, it is punishable if you fail to visit your parents if they are over 60. This is one of the fascinating facts about China because, in many other nations, the elderly are neglected or placed in care facilities.
25. Chinese Food and Cuisine Are Very Famous Throughout the World
The “8 Major Cuisines” of Chinese food include Cantonese, Sichuan, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Hunan, Fujian, Anhui, and Shandong cuisines. All cuisines have a unique taste and cooking techniques, making them different from each other.
One of the things that distinguish Chinese cuisine from other cuisines is the range of ingredients and cooking techniques that are used, as well as the use of food therapy, which is one of the interesting facts about China.
General Facts About China
1. Chinese People
#1. China’s population is over 1.4 Billion, making it the most populated country.
#2. In China, urban regions house 60.7 percent of the population.
#3. The Chinese flag symbolizes national unity.
#4. One out of every five persons on the globe is Chinese.
2. Chinese History
#1. Along with the Babylonian, Mayan, and Egyptian civilizations, China is one of the most ancient civilizations.
#2. Throughout China’s history, there have been around 600 rulers. According to Chinese legend, the first dynasty was the Xia dynasty, and the Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty that ruled over ancient China.
#3. The Tang Dynasty was one of China’s most affluent and powerful dynasties. Everyone in China is familiar with Tang poetry and paintings.
3. China’s Geography
#1. China has a single time zone. Despite its vast size, China shares a single time zone known as Beijing Standard Time.
#2. The dry seasons and wet monsoons characterize China’s climate.
#3. China has around 34,687 animal and plant species, ranking it third in the world behind Brazil and Colombia.
4. Chinese Language
#1. About 70% of the population in China speaks Mandarin.
#2. Other than Mandarin, languages spoken in China include Yue, Wu, Min, Xiang, Gan, and Hakka.
5. Chinese Culture
#1. In ancient times, Confucianism had a strong influence on Chinese culture.
#2. China acknowledges 56 distinct ethnic groups, collectively known as the Zhonghua Minzu.
#3. Chinese people believe in colors as a Chinese bride wears a red wedding dress because it is a color of luck while white is for grieving.
#4. The tea and tea ceremony is a traditional Chinese custom that plays an essential role in Chinese weddings to date.
6. China Highlights
#1. Table tennis, known as Ping Pong, is the national sport of China.
#2. Basketball is the most famous sport in China.
#3. The Grand Canal is the world’s longest and oldest artificial river, built during the Sui dynasty.
#4. China is home to the world’s largest abandoned mall, the New South China Mall, in Dongguan, Guangdong Province.
#5. The Chinese New Year holiday lasts 15 days! China’s most important holiday is traditionally observed in January or February.
#6. China possesses the longest sea-crossing bridge in the world.
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