50 Fun Facts about China That You Wouldn’t Believe

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Laozi

Here are some pretty amazing facts about China that you won’t believe. Which one is most unbelievable?

1. As of September 2020, China is the most populated country in the world with over 1.4 billion people (1,439,323,776). This is based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data.
2. Ping-pong is one of the most popular games in China, but it was not invented in China. It originated in Britain, where it is called table tennis.
3. The Chinese invented kites (“paper birds” or “Aeolian harps”) about 3,000 years ago. They were used to frighten the enemies in battle, and Marco Polo (1254-1324) noted that kites were also used to predict the success of a voyage. It was considered bad luck to purposely let a kite go.
4. In 2009, Facebook, Twitter, Google and the New York Times were banned from China. In the search for equivalents, Chinese came up with almost similar apps. “Renren” is an equivalent of Facebook, Weibo is an equivalent of Twitter, and WeChat is an equivalent of WhatsApp while QQ offers email services.
5. Half of all pigs on earth live in China.
6. The mortar used to bind the Great Wall’s stones was made with sticky rice!
7. During the first half of the twentieth century, Shanghai was the only port in the world to accept Jews fleeing the Holocaust without an entry visa.
8. Chinese mathematics evolved independently of Greek mathematics and is consequently of great interest to historians of mathematics.
9. According to popular legend, tea was discovered by the Chinese emperor Shennong in 2737 B.C. when a tea leaf fell into his boiling water. The Chinese consider tea to be a necessity of life.
10. In the Tang dynasty, anyone with an education was expected to greet as well as say goodbye to another person in poetic verse composed on the spot.
11. Suspension bridges were invented in China in 25 B.C, 1,800 years before such bridges were known in the West.
12. Giant Pandas (“bearcat”) date back two to three million years. The early Chinese emperors kept pandas to ward off evil spirits and natural disasters. Pandas also were considered symbols of might and bravery.
13. Every single Panda living in the whole world belongs to China. That means if you see a Panda in your country, it is lent by China. In China, all Pandas can be found in Chengdu, Sichuan’s capital city.
14. Pandas eat all day long. They take about 10 to 16 hours a day eating. Despite belonging to the bear family, they do not hibernate. China’s giant pandas are good swimmers.
15. When a panda is born in another country FedEx (an American multinational courier service) airlifts the cub to China for proper care and acclimatisation
16. Chinese dragons are friendly and breathe water.
17. Many Chinese emperors considered themselves to be descendants of dragons.
18. People race boats with dragon designs at a Chinese festival in the spring.
19. The custom of binding feet (euphemistically called “golden lilies”) began among female entertainers and members of the Chinese court during the Song dynasty (A.D. 960-1279). Tightly wrapped bandages gradually broke the arch of the foot and caused the woman’s toes and heel to grow inward toward one another. Her leg muscles would also atrophy and become very thin. Bound feet were seen as highly sexual.
20. Mandarin is not the only language in China. There are others such as Yue, Wu, Minbei, Minnan, Xiang, Gan and Hakka. Some regions in China also have their own dialects
21. Fortune cookies did not originate in China (it was invented in San Francisco) and it is not a traditional Chinese custom. This is contrary to what many Westerners think.
22. Put all of China’s railway lines, it can loop around the earth two times!
23. China has the fastest train in the world. The bullet trains in Shanghai move at a speed of 430km/hr. That is some super speed! The trains use magnetic levitation where the trains remain suspended with no support but use magnetic fields for acceleration.
24. In China, every year is named after one of the 12 Chinese zodiac animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig. 2020 is year of the Rat.
25. The Bailong Elevator in Wulingyuan area of Zhangjiajie, China can carry visitors up to 300 meters high on a cliff’s edge. This elevator is the world’s heaviest and highest outdoor elevator.
26. China, along with Italy, has the highest number of UNESCO sites in the world. Some of the most visited UNESCO sites in China include the: Forbidden City in Beijing, The Great Wall of China, Summer Palace in Beijing, and the Temple of Heaven in Beijing and the world-famous Terracotta Army.
27. Speaking of UNESCO sites in China, the Forbidden City in Beijing has 9,000 rooms all in all. It is one of the largest and oldest imperial palaces in the world.
28. Despite its huge size, China surprisingly only has one timezone. Everybody is using the official Beijing time.
29. The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia
30. Chinese people are the biggest travel spenders in the world. They spend US $260 billion every year, twice the spending of American travelers.
31. Ice cream was discovered in China some 4,000 years ago.
32. The Chinese people back then combined milk, rice mixture and snow to create the yummy dessert.
33. China invented ice cream, and Marco Polo is rumored to have taken the recipe (along with the recipe for noodles) back with him to Europe. 7th-century Emperor Tang of Shang had 94 ‘ice men’ who made him ice-cream.
34. Chinese people avoid using or mentioning the number “4” as it is associated with death. China builds a new skyscraper every five days.
35. In a year, China builds at least 73 new skyscrapers
36. You will never eat the same food twice in China. Every region in the country has their own dishes, distinct flavours and cuisine. In addition, Chinese food is served almost always fresh.
37. Chopsticks were originally used for cooking and not eating. Ketchup is known to be an American condiment, however, its origins are are anything but American.
38. Ketchup comes from the Hokkien Chinese word, “kê-tsiap”, the name of a sauce derived from fermented fish.
39. Unlike brides across the world, Chinese brides wear red instead of white. Red is considered to be a lucky color in China.
40. The Terracota Army in Xi’an China took 37 years to build. It consists of 8,000 clay soldiers built to guard an Emperor’s tomb. It’s estimated that the life size terracotta figures of warriors took over 30 years to create and they were buried with the Emperor Qin Shi Huang in 210–209 BC to protect him in the afterlife. They were hidden for centuries until they were discovered by local farmers in 1974. It’s a must-see attraction for many who visit Xi’an. China is home to world-class universities.
41. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings released last Wednesday, 2nd September, 7 Chinese universities was included in the top 200 universities in the world. The Chinese universities are Tsinghua University, Peking University, Fudan University, University of Science and Technology of China, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Nanjing University.
42. Fanjingshan mountain is one of China’s best kept secret I know, we said we would give you 30 interesting facts, but here is another one for free! Fanjingshan is in Guizhou province in south China. You can climb up to the top and the view is spectacular. We’ve been here and we actually think it is more impressive than the great wall of China.
43. In Ancient China, soldiers sometimes wore armour made from paper.
44. The Chinese invented paper, the compass, gunpowder, and printing. Toilet paper was invented in China in the late 1300s. It was for emperors only.
45. China invented paper money.
46. Chinese started carrying folded money during the Tang Dynasty before the 17th Century. Today, we enjoy stacking our currency notes in our wallets and purses, all thanks to the Chinese who came up with this realistic invention.
47. In 2010 a 2,400-year-old pot of soup was unearthed in Xi’an, China.
48. Architectural Marvels and Historical Wonders: China’s capability to construct awe-inspiring structures is not just a modern phenomenon. The Bailong Elevator, holding the record as the world’s highest and heaviest outdoor elevator, is a testament to modern engineering prowess. However, this tradition of architectural marvels dates back thousands of years, as seen with the Terracotta Army, an underground army of life-size soldiers guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor, a project that reflects ancient China’s meticulous craftsmanship and laborious dedication.
49. Innovations that Changed the World: China’s contributions to global civilization through its inventions are profound. From the compass, paper, printing, and gunpowder, China’s ancient innovations have shaped the course of history. The discovery of ice cream, dating back 4,000 years, and the invention of paper money, are examples of how Chinese ingenuity has impacted daily life worldwide.
50. A Cultural Powerhouse with a Single Time Zone: Despite its vast size, spanning five geographical time zones, China operates under a single time zone – Beijing time. This unique practice underscores the country’s emphasis on unity and central governance. Moreover, China’s cultural influence extends through its cuisine, with each region offering distinct flavors and dishes, ensuring that one can never have the same meal twice when traversing the country.

Resources to Learn More About China

For those intrigued by China’s vast history, culture, and contributions to the world, here are some resources to delve deeper:

• Books: “The Search for Modern China” by Jonathan D. Spence provides a comprehensive overview of China’s dramatic journey from the Ming dynasty to the present day. “Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China” by Jung Chang offers a personal look into China’s cultural and political evolution through the lives of three generations of Chinese women.
• Documentaries: “The Story of China” by Michael Wood explores the history of China from its earliest days to the 21st century, providing insights into its culture, inventions, and the people who have shaped it.
• Online Courses: Platforms like Coursera and EdX offer courses on Chinese history, culture, language, and more, taught by professors from leading universities.
• Travel: Immersing oneself in the culture through travel is unparalleled. Visiting UNESCO World Heritage sites in China, such as the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army, offers a direct connection to China’s historical and cultural richness.