Hovering mountains, plunging canyons, big pandas and only a single time zone – we share probably the most attention-grabbing info about China
I visited China practically 20 years in the past and located a rustic on the march. China could also be one of many world’s most historic civilisations with a steady tradition stretching again 1000’s of years, however right this moment’s comparatively fashionable nation – the Individuals’s Republic of China – was based in 1949 and is extra like a number of completely different nations rolled into one.
That is hardly stunning contemplating Twenty first-century China’s sheer enormity. The nation is off-the-scale large by way of space, inhabitants, economic system, tradition, army, historical past, delicacies, language, partitions… I might go on.
No surprise then, as Kia found on her current go to, there are infinite issues to see and do on this immense land that’s stocked with pure wonders and man-made marvels. Beneath, we share simply among the most attention-grabbing info about China we’ve realized throughout our visits.
1. China’s actual identify means ‘Center Kingdom’
China’s English identify comes from the Qin (Chin) third century BC dynasty. The Chinese language identify Zhongguo interprets as ‘Center Kingdom’ or ‘Central Nation’.
– Supply: CIA World Factbook
2. China is the world’s second most populous nation
With over 1.4 billion individuals, China is the world’s second most populous nation after India. It is usually considered one of solely two nations with a couple of billion individuals. China was probably the most populous nation from 1950 till it was surpassed by India in 2023.
– Supply: World Financial institution


3. China is a communist state
China is without doubt one of the world’s 5 communist states. The others are Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and North Korea (though technically the North Korean authorities doesn’t check with itself as communist).
– Supply: Historical past Channel
4. Western web is blocked in China
1000’s of western apps and web sites are blocked in China in what’s generally known as the Nice Firewall of China. The ruling communist social gathering perceives an open web as a risk to the state.
– Supply: The Guardian
5. Tens of millions of individuals in China stay in caves
Extra individuals stay in caves in China than anyplace else on the earth. Roughly 30 to 40 million individuals stay in caves carved from porous soil within the Shaanxi Province. China’s present president, Xi Jinping, reportedly lived in considered one of these caves as a teen.
– Supply: Nationwide Geographic


6. China is large
When it comes to space, China is the world’s fourth-largest nation after Russia, Canada and the USA.
– Supply: World Financial institution
7. China borders 14 nations
China (together with Russia) borders 14 nations – probably the most on the earth. The 14 nations are Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, India, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Vietnam.
– Supply: The Telegraph


8. China has just one time zone
Regardless of its measurement, China maintains only a single time zone throughout all the nation. As such, faculties, airports and prepare stations function at irregular hours; eating places stay open for dinner till the early hours; and nationwide exams are typically accomplished in the course of the evening.
– Supply: The New York Instances
9. China has an unlimited economic system
China has the world’s second-largest economic system after the USA.
– Supply: World Financial institution
10. China’s heritage is (virtually) unmatched
China has 59 UNESCO World Heritage Websites. Solely Italy has extra with 60.
– Supply: UNESCO
11. China has the world’s largest man-made construction
The Nice Wall of China is the nation’s most well-known landmark. It was constructed to guard China’s northern border and is the world’s largest man-made construction at 21,196km (13,171mi) in size. Development started in round 220 BC and continued as much as the Ming dynasty (1368-1644).
– Supply: BBC Information, UNESCO


12. The world’s highest mountain is in China
Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 8,848m (29,029ft), is part-located in China. Its summit sits on the border between China and Nepal. In Tibetan, the mountain is known as Chomolungma, that means ‘goddess mom of the snows.’
– Supply: NASA Earth Observatory
1.3 China is mountainous
In actual fact, 9 of the eight-thousanders – the world’s solely mountains over 8,000m (26,247ft) excessive – are both part- or completely situated inside China.
– Supply: NASA Earth Observatory
14. The Forbidden Metropolis has over 900 buildings
Beijing’s Forbidden Metropolis is China’s largest and best-preserved assortment of historic buildings. It was constructed between 1406 and 1420, has over 900 buildings and receives round 16 million guests a 12 months.
– Supply: Lonely Planet
15. There may be a military of life-sized clay troopers
China’s Terracotta Military has been described as “one of many biggest archaeological discoveries of contemporary occasions”. In 1974, peasants found the primary fragments of a clay determine. Archaeologists would later excavate a tomb full of a whole military of life-sized terracotta troopers and horses that had been interred for greater than 2,000 years. Thus far, an estimated 8,000 warriors have been unearthed.
– Supply: Smithsonian Journal


16. China’s New 12 months is just not the identical as ours
The Chinese language New 12 months happens at a unique time to western calendars. As an alternative, the annual 15-day pageant begins with the brand new moon that happens someday between Twenty first January and twentieth February.
– Supply: Britannica
17. Yearly is an animal in China
In China, yearly is represented by considered one of 12 Lunar New 12 months animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Canine and Pig. In line with the calendar, the 12 months you have been born determines your character. On twenty ninth January 2025, the 12 months of the Snake begins.
– Supply: Royal Museums Greenwich
18. Pandas can solely be present in China
Wild Large Pandas can solely be present in southwest China. There are just one,864 endangered panda bears within the wild and they’re thought of a nationwide treasure in China. Thankfully, because of conservation efforts, numbers have been rising just lately.
– Supply: WWF


19. Gunpowder was invented in China
Historians consider that gunpowder was by accident invented in China round 850 AD when alchemists found the explosive properties of a mix of charcoal, potassium nitrate and sulfur whereas searching for an elixir of life.
– Supply: Historical past Channel
20. China is just not very non secular
Simply 3% of adults in China say faith is essential of their lives, making it the least non secular nation on the earth.
– Supply: Pew Analysis Heart
21. China has a large military
With 2,535,000 armed forces personnel, China has the world’s second-largest army after India.
– Supply: World Financial institution
22. China has the world’s largest glass bridge
China has the world’s highest (300m/984ft) and longest (430m/1,411ft) glass bridge. The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge famously closed simply two weeks after opening in 2016 when officers realised it was going to obtain 10 occasions as many guests as anticipated.
– Supply: BBC Information


23. China had a one-child coverage for many years
From 1979 to 2016, China had a one-child coverage in place in an effort to gradual the nation’s inhabitants progress. A two-child coverage was adopted in 2016 however this was changed with a three-child coverage in 2021 after census information confirmed a steep decline in delivery charges.
– Supply: BBC Information
24. China has the world’s quickest builder
In 2015, a 57-storey skyscraper was inbuilt simply 19 working days in China, at a tempo of three flooring a day. The development firm claims to be the world’s quickest builder.
– Supply: The Guardian
25. The Actual Grand Canyon is in China
The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in China is the world’s deepest. In some locations, it measures greater than 5,300m (17,490ft) from prime to backside. At round 500km (310mi), it’s also one of many world’s longest canyons.
– Supply: Nationwide Geographic


26. China has the world’s tallest out of doors carry
At 326m (1,070ft) excessive, the Bailong Elevator, within the Zhangjiajie Nationwide Forest Park in Hunan, is the world’s tallest out of doors carry.
– Supply: CNN
27. In China, it’s regulation to care on your dad and mom
In 2013, China launched a regulation requiring grownup youngsters to go to and care for his or her ageing dad and mom. The ‘Safety of the Rights and Pursuits of the Aged Individuals’ invoice states youngsters should care for his or her dad and mom’ religious and bodily wants.
– Supply: The Impartial
28. China has Asia’s largest river
At 6,300km (3,915mi), China’s Yangtze River is Asia’s longest and the world’s third-longest river after the Nile and Amazon.
– Supply: Britannica
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