1. The Land of Many Firsts
You might not know that China is the birthplace of numerous things we take for granted. The compass, gunpowder, paper, printing, and even alcohol, all have their origins in China. Archaeologists have found proof that the Chinese were making a form of wine from rice, honey, and fruit as far back as 7000 BC. Talk about being ahead of the game.
2. The Great Wall Isn't Visible from Space
Contrary to popular belief and despite its impressive length, the Great Wall of China is not visible from space with the naked eye. The myth has been debunked by astronauts –most notably, Yang Liwei, the first Chinese astronaut.
3. Loves Fortune Cookies, but Not from China
Fortune cookies are usually associated with Chinese cuisine in the United States. However, these sweet, crisp treats, complete with a piece of paper inside holding a 'fortune', were actually invented in Japan and popularized in the US. In China, they are considered to be a foreign concept.
4. Worlds Highest Bridge and Longest Sea Bridge
China is home to the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, the longest sea bridge on the planet stretching 102.4 miles. Moreover, China also hosts the highest bridge - The Beipanjiang Bridge, which soars 565 metres (1,854 feet) above a river.
5. Terracotta Army – Each with Unique Features
The Terracotta Army that was buried with the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, in 210–209 BCE includes 8000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry horses, each with unique features, depicting the members of his army.
6. Social Media System Unlike Any Other
Most Western social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are banned in China. Instead, they have their own versions: WeChat (Weixin) and Weibo, which have far more capabilities than their western counterparts.
7. A Country With Hundreds of Languages and Dialects
While Mandarin Chinese is the official language spoken throughout most of China, it's interesting to know there are actually 292 living languages spoken across the country, including Cantonese, Tibetan, Uighur, and Mongolian.
8. Chopstick Etiquettes
When using chopsticks in China, there are certain etiquettes that are observed. For instance, pointing your chopsticks directly at someone is considered disrespect, and placing chopsticks upright in your bowl is a symbol associated with death.
9. UNESCO World Heritage Galore
China ranks first in the world with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. This list includes both cultural sites like The Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Terracotta Army; and natural sites like Mount Huangshan and Jiuzhaigou Valley.
10. 4 Billion Duck Eaten in a Year
The Chinese love duck. So much so, it's estimated that the country consumes around 4 billion a year. That's nearly 3 ducks for each person in China!
11. Paper Money Invention
China was the first country to invent paper money, called "Jiaozi", around 1,400 years ago.
12. China's Elderly Population Tops the Charts
China's elderly population (age 60 or older) is growing rapidly and is expected to exceed 400 million by the end of 2035. China currently has more elderly people than any other country.
13. The Comparative Size of China
China is about the same size as the continental USA but it only has one official time zone (Beijing time). The US has 4 (Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern).
14. China - The Homework Capital of The World
Chinese students receive the most homework in the world. On an average, teenagers do a whopping 14 hours of homework in a week, compared to 6 hours in the rest of the world.
15. China, A Staple of Tea
China is the birthplace of tea, with the earliest records of tea drinking dating back to the 10th century BC. Nowadays, China is the world's largest producer of tea.
16. Highest Consumer of Red Wine
China is the largest consumer of red wine in the world, beating traditional wine-loving countries like Italy and France.
17. World's Largest Population
China has the world's largest population - over 1.4 billion people. That's nearly 20% of the Earth’s total!
18. Skyscraper Marvel
China has more skyscrapers (building more than 150 m) than any other country in the world. In fact, in 2018, China completed 88 out of the total 143 skyscrapers built worldwide.
19. Fake Sun and Moon
China has plans to launch an artificial moon into space by 2022, with the ambition of replacing its streetlights. It also has a fake sun, which is an artificial nuclear fusion reactor that reached 120 million degrees Celsius in 2020, ten times hotter than the real sun.
20. Rice Paddies Recognition
China's ancient rice terraces – The Hani Rice Terraces – have been officially recognized by UNESCO and added to the World Heritage list for their astonishing beauty and hundreds of years' history.