Karolina PatrykContributed by Karolina and Patryk
China is a fascinating country! We spent more than 2 amazing weeks in Beijing more than a month ago. It was not enough to explore the beauty of this country, so we will definitely come back there in the future. Anyways, there are so many fun facts about China to share with you! This is so far the most unique, the weirdest and the most exciting country we have ever been to.
1. Weird table manners
Something that you have to avoid in most countries on the world is totally acceptable in China. Just like in Vietnam, spitting, yawning, grunting and burping are normal behaviours when you eat in China.
For us, it was extremely disgusting and we couldn’t get used to it. Maybe if we stay in this country a little bit longer, it would be easier for us to tolerate it.
2. Children toilet etiquette
This is really weird! Diapers are not popular in China. Most children wear special pants with big hole bottoms. When they feel they need to make a poo or pee, they just squat and do it wherever they want.
And this is what you call an eco life!
Also read: 10 Unusual Things You Will Encounter in China
3. World’s most most populated country
China is the most populated country in the world (with more than a billion people in 2016).
Here’s what it REALLY means:
- Population of China is more than 4 times bigger than population of the US
- One in every 5 human is Chinese
- Chinese is the most popular language in the world (based on number of native speakers)
- 14% of people in the world speak Chinese
4. One of the biggest countries in the world
Contrary to most people think, China is not the biggest country in the world. It’s 4th after Russia, Canada and United States.
Russia is almost 2 times bigger than China!
5. World’s largest army
Chinese army has the biggest number of soldiers in the world (more than 2 million people).
Just to compare — it’s the same as the population of Paris.
6. Panda owners
China is the owner of all pandas. Literally, all of them! Every single panda that lives on this world belongs to China.
If you see a panda in other countries, it means it is lent from PRC (People’s Republic of China). What’s interesting is that when a baby panda is born, it is sent to China (always by FedEx) to help expand the gene pool.
7. Virginity rescuers
Restoring virginity is possible and quite popular in China. This plastic surgery even has a medical name — hymenorrhaphy.
Chinese women pay a lot of money for reconstructing their hymens before the wedding night. They just don’t want their future husbands to find out that they are not virgins anymore…
8. Traffic jam business
China is the most populated country in the world. No wonder they have huge traffic jam problems.
What to do when you are late on your meeting and you are stuck in a traffic jam? You are calling the bottleneck rescuers! Two guys will come to you on a motorbike. One will drive you whenever you want and the other will take your place in a car.
Clever, huh?
9. Relics of the past
It is unbelievable but 35 million of Chinese people still live in caves!
They don’t have enough money for building a house, so they are using caves as their shelters.
10. Late sunrises
China is a huge country with only one time zone! That’s why in some places the sun rises even at 10:00 AM.
In the past China has 5 different time zones. But in 1949 the Communist Party leaders decided to set one time for the whole country. Since then, everybody is using an official Beijing time.
11. New Year’s fiesta
New Year is the biggest holiday in China. It is celebrated on January or February, and it’s the real holiday for everybody. Almost nobody is working, every one is going back home to celebrate this happy time with their families.
Chinese New Year celebration lasts for 15 days!
Nothing can be compared to this. It’s really unusual that the whole country is having a holiday for such a long time.
What’s interesting, Chinese New Year is celebrated in many other countries in the world. Considering the huge population of China, it is very likely that Chinese New Year is even more popular than Christmas!
12. Births restriction
China is the only country in the world where the reproduction is limited. Until 2015, Chinese couples could have only 1 child. For more than a year now, they can have 2 children.
It’s actually extremely interesting subject for us, so we wrote another post about one-child policy in China. You can read it here.
13. The empire of pigs
Half of the pigs in the world belong to China! On an average day, Chinese people consume 1.7 million pigs.
14. Multi-religious country
Due to the huge population of China, almost every religion of the world is adhered there. The most popular are Taoism, Confucianism and Buddhism.
An interesting fact is that there are more Christians in China than in Italy!
15. Ice cream inventors
Who doesn’t love ice creams? We can eat this delicious dessert thanks to China. It is believed that they first made it more than 4000 years ago by mixing milk and rice mixture with the snow.
16. Medical geniuses
Nowadays, we all know that the blood is circulating in our veins. But it wasn’t so obvious in the past.
European scientist William Harvey was proud to announce this in 1628. He didn’t know that Chinese people discovered it… more than 2000 years before him!
17. Mathematical geniuses
It isn’t a big secret that Chinese people are one of the best in mathematics in the world.
History of mathematics in China dates back to 11th century BC! Thanks to China, we know today the number 0, the decimal and binary systems, geometry, trigonometry and algebra.
Also read: Top 20 Tourist Attractions in China You Must Visit
18. Architectural geniuses
It is a commonly known fact that the world’s biggest man made structure is situated in China. The Great Wall is not visible from the space but it’s still impressively long — 8,850 km (5,500 miles).
The most famous imperial palace in China called The Forbidden City has more than 9,000 rooms!
19. Gods of war
Chinese people were the first to use gas and chemical weapons during the war.
Europeans did the same… 2000 years after them! These kinds of weapons were used during World War II.
When it comes to WWII, it’s worth mentioning that Shanghai in China was the world’s only port that were accepting Jews running away from the Holocaust without an entry visa.
Another interesting fact about Chinese war skills is that they invented kites to frighten their enemies more than 3000 years ago.
20. Longest continuous civilisation in the world
Last but not the least, China is the world’s longest continuous civilisation. It began about 6000 BC and lasts until today.
Also read: 12 Totally Underrated Places of China That Will Blow You Away
