Here are some interesting and lesser-known facts about China:
1. The Great Wall of China is not visible from space, despite popular belief.
2. The world’s largest population, with over 1.4 billion people, resides in China.
3. The Chinese practiced foot binding for over 1,000 years. This involved tightly binding the feet of young girls to prevent them from growing, creating a coveted “lotus foot” appearance.
4. China is home to the world’s largest mall, the South China Mall, which has been mostly empty since its 2005 opening.
5. The Chinese were the first to invent paper money, which they did over 1,000 years ago.
6. China has a long history of tea consumption, dating back to the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century. The tea ceremony, known as Gong Fu Cha, is still practiced today and is considered an art form.
7. The terracotta army, buried with the first Emperor of China to protect him in the afterlife, was discovered by farmers in 1974. The army consists of over 8,000 soldiers, 130 chariots, and 670 horses.
8. China is the birthplace of kite flying, with the first kites being used over 2,000 years ago for military purposes such as sending messages and signaling.
9. In ancient China, it was customary to bind the feet of young girls to prevent them from growing, a practice that lasted for over 1,000 years.
10. China has more speakers of Mandarin than any other country in the world.
20 Interesting and lesser-known facts about China
11. The Potala Palace in Tibet, one of the largest palaces in the world, was the residence of the Dalai Lama until the Chinese occupation of Tibet.
12. The first recorded use of gunpowder was in China, where it was invented for use in weaponry and fireworks.
13. China has the largest number of skyscrapers in the world, with more than 5,000 buildings over 492 feet tall.
14. The Chinese were the first to use chopsticks, which they have used for over 4,000 years.
15. The ancient Chinese invented the wheelbarrow, which was used for transportation and construction.
16. In China, the color red is considered lucky and is often used in celebrations and festivals, such as the Chinese New Year.
17. The Chinese invented the seismograph, a device used to measure earthquakes, over 2,000 years ago.
18. China is home to the largest bridge in the world, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, which spans 102.4 miles.
19. The Chinese have been making silk for over 5,000 years and it was once a closely guarded secret, with the punishment for revealing the secret of silk production being death.
20. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of power and good luck, and is often seen in Chinese art and festivals. Unlike western dragons, which are often portrayed as dangerous and fearsome creatures, Chinese dragons are seen as benevolent and kind.