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Random Facts About China

Batul Nafisa Baxamusa
Read through about some random and interesting facts about China.
People's Republic of China, or simply China, is one of the oldest civilizations in the world, having a history of about 4000 years. China is also the largest country in East Asia, and reportedly, one-fifth of the world's population there.
The country is rich in culture and traditions, natural beauty, wildlife, and is also known for numerous important inventions. On the east, the country is lined with ports and mega cities. The southeastern regions consist of tropical lowlands and jungles.

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History of China

China was divided into different regions ruled by various warlords. Ancient China was united into a single empire only after 221 BCE, with the rise of the Qin dynasty.

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Imperial China remained in existence till 1912, and after the defeat of Japan in 1945, China became the People's Republic, which was established by the Communist leader, Mao Zedong, in 1949.

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The Chinese Flag

The meaning of the Chinese flag is very interesting to note.The current flag design was adopted in 1949. There are specific meanings attached to the Chinese flag colors. The red color of the background stands for bloodshed, and is associated with the Chinese revolution.
The large gold star stands for the leadership of China, and the four stars surrounding it, represent the four classes of the Chinese society―the peasants, the workers, the bourgeoisie, and the capitalists.

Chinese Food

Chinese food and drink is very old and varied, filled with essence of Chinese culture. Chinese use chopsticks, instead of spoons, to eat food. The chopsticks are two slender sticks, held between the fingers, and used to pick up food like rice and noodles.
A chopstick is made of wood, bamboo, plastic. The most famous beverage here is tea, and it is an important part of the Chinese lifestyle. In fact, tea is considered to be a medicinal concoction, according to the ancient Chinese medicine. Other interesting foods include noodles, dumplings, and dim sums.

Chinese Cultural Heritage

China is known for some of its man-made structures, which have become a part of the cultural heritage and pride of the nation. One such man-made wonder is the Great Wall of China. It is said to be about 1,250 to 1,500 miles in length.
There are many interesting facts about the Great Wall of China. It was made by the Qin emperors in the 3rd century to prevent smuggling. Later on, the dynasties that followed, continued the construction of the wall to keep the invading Mongolian tribes away.
Next, comes the Forbidden city, located in Beijing. This is a palace complex that serves as a window for the Chinese royal architecture, culture, and traditions. It the largest palace complex, and covers over 74 hectors. It is rectangular in shape, and located to the north of Tienanmen Square.
In 1987, it was declared a World Heritage Site. It is even recognized by the UNESCO as the largest preservation of ancient wooden structures in the world.
When one talks about China, one cannot afford to miss mentioning the famous Terracotta Army. This is one of the rarest and intriguing excavation sites that was discovered by accident. A peasant, who was digging for water, discovered the man-made Terracotta Army in 1974.
This army has thousands of life-size clay soldiers, horses, and chariots. Each and every soldier of the army has a different face, hairstyle, and expression. It is said, that this army was built to protect the emperor in his afterlife.

Interesting Facts About China

✺ Around 2000 BCE, something that everyone loves―ice cream was made in China for the first time. This was accomplished by packing soft milk and rice mixture in snow.

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✺ The word, China, may have been derived from the name of Qin dynasty (pronounced Chin).

✺ The first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (260 - 210 BC), was the first person to unite the country in 221 BCE.

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✹ China is the fourth largest country in the world, with an area of about 3,719,275 square miles.

✹ 1 in every 5 people in the world is Chinese.

✹ The population of China is four times the population of the United States.

✹ Toilet paper was invented in China in late 1300s, and was meant to be used only by kings.

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✹ The Chinese are known to have invented paper, printing, compass, gunpowder, and fireworks.

✹ Even though China is a very large country, it falls under just a single time zone.

✹ There are 14 countries and 4 seas, bordering China.
✹ The climate of China is extremely varied due to its large size―there is sub-arctic climate in the North and tropical climate in the South.

✹ There are over 3000 television broadcast stations, and 259 FM channels in China.

✹ The people of China follow the right-hand drive, whereas the cars in Hong Kong follow the left-hand drive, like the British.

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✺ The most traditional Chinese greeting is Ni chi le mei you?, which means, 'Have you eaten?'

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✺ The largest public gathering place in the world is the Tienanmen Square, and the largest dam in the world is the Three Georges Dam, both in China.
✺ It is a myth that the Great Wall of China is visible from space. It cannot be seen, as it is too thin.

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✺ The fossils of 'Homo gigantus' or the 'Big Foot' also called the 'Yeti' have been found in China.

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✺ In 955 CE, Liu Ch'ing became the governor of what was then, China's Shanxi province. It is interesting to note that he was born with two pupils in both his eyes.
✺ The Giant Pandas are China's national treasure, and only 1,600 of them are living in the wild today.

✺ In some parts of China, young, unmarried girls wore two pigtails. One pigtail indicated a married woman.
These were some of the most intriguing facts about China, and we hope that the country continues to fascinate the world, even in the future.

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