China is not only the Great Wall, rice and cheap goods that have flooded store shelves around the world. It is also an ancient country with a rich history and culture that has given the world many inventions that we all use to this day. China is very diverse, and having visited one of its parts, you can be sure that literally a thousand miles away there is a completely different life.
China is a truly amazing country, where in the most bizarre way they combine gigantic skyscrapers, cozy houses with paths on their roofs, their structure of the state, amazing nature, historical monuments and unique traditions of local residents. Further, you will read the most amazing facts about China that you have not heard about.
Special officers – Do you know that often many local police officers use specially trained geese instead of the usual dogs? These birds are much cheaper, have excellent eyesight and are aggressive enough to stun a criminal.
Homeland of football – Many believe that modern European football was created by the British several centuries ago. However, in reality, a game called tsuju, which means “push the ball” in Chinese, was already a popular folk entertainment during the reign of the Han Dynasty (200 years BC). Later it became widespread in Japan, Vietnam, Korea and eventually transformed into modern football.
Special Names – In China, the tradition of naming your children in honor of any significant events is very common. So, more than four thousand babies received the name Aoyun, which translates as “Olympic Games”. Also, children are often called not only in honor of various events, but also popular mottos and even songs.
Piquant delicacy – The following dish is considered to be a non-genuine delicacy in the Middle Kingdom. Fresh boys urine up to 10 years old is collected in a large bowl and many eggs are boiled throughout the day. According to Chinese medicine, such a fragrant dish strengthens the immune system, improves well-being and overall health.
Population control – Chinese citizens are not allowed to have children without government permission. Before this, it is necessary to obtain special approval according to the norms of the Certificate on Family Planning – control is carried out three months before pregnancy and three months after the birth of the baby. Which is quite understandable, because almost 1.5 billion Chinese live in the country. In total, about 7.6 billion people live on the planet. Moreover, for the birth of a second child (if they get permission for it), parents are obliged to pay substantial fines to the state.
Country laws – The government issued a decree according to which only one time zone operates in the Middle Kingdom, although the state is the third largest in the world. Due to the fact that only Beijing standard time operates here, in such western regions of the country as the city of Xinjian, formally, dawn begins only at 10 a.m., when in practice the day is already in full swing.
Animal lovers – According to the same legendary Chinese medicine, the consumption of food in dogs well stimulates internal heat, improves health and, of course, brings good luck in business. This ancient truth has gradually become a tradition. Today in China whole festivals are held annually, where dogs are eaten. Most preference is given to thoroughbred individuals. Unfortunately, many “mouth-watering” cats deserve a similar attitude here.
China is the most populated state in the world. About 1.4 billion people live on its territory. For comparison, in the largest state of the planet, Russia, only 146.8 million people live. China has an army with the largest number of military personnel in the world. It is this state that is the world’s largest importer of coal and a gold producer, and also the world leader in the generation and consumption of electricity. More than 500 species of bamboo grow on the territory of China.
China holds the lead in exporting more than 100 types of products, from clothing to refrigerators and cameras. In the overwhelming majority of cases, the Chinese marry their partners, whom they are selected by the trade union. The Imperial Palace in Beijing, or the Forbidden City, consists of exactly 9999 rooms.
In the Chinese province of Shaanxi is the mausoleum of the first emperor of the united China with an area of over 56.25 square kilometers. In its vaulted halls is the famous terracotta army, consisting of 7,5 thousand soldiers and 90 war chariots. All the figures are unique and have a height of 1.8 meters.
The Chinese invented mirrors, porcelain, silk, gunpowder, paper, umbrellas, a compass and printed books, as well as many other things without which it is difficult to imagine the modern world.
There is evidence that even in ancient times in China they played a sport game with a ball of leather resembling football. Traditional duck in Beijing prepares for about two days.
The Chinese city of Shanghai is the largest sea port on Earth. In China, eat meat of cats and dogs, as well as cooked soup from shark fins and use a wolfberry as a seasoning for broths. One of the most common Chinese desserts is sweet turtle soup. Contrary to popular myth, the Great Wall of China is not visible from the Moon, nor even from the Earth’s orbit.
The taste enhancer (sodium glutamate) is sold in Chinese grocery stores along with salt and pepper. It is added to almost all dishes prepared by local culinary specialists. As in Japan, by the way. In China, it is customary to dine in a big company of friends or relatives – it is supposed to be leisurely and with pleasure. If the participants of the meal order a soup, it will be brought in one two-liter plate at all.
China officially blocked access to all Western social networks. In Chinese supermarkets you can buy live turtles or frogs, which will be killed and gutted in front of the buyer. The Chinese consider kids up to 5 years of holy creatures, which can absolutely everything – children do not scold, no matter how much they do not cheat. Chinese people speak 7 dialects of the Chinese language, which are so different that the inhabitants of the northern and southern regions will not understand each other. But they have one written writing at all.
In the underground passages of major Chinese cities there are special places for posting ads about acquaintance – the Chinese are fully committed to first learning, and then to work, so they simply do not have time for entertainment and acquaintance with the opposite sex in everyday life. A lot of products are sold in Chinese shops that can surprise foreigners from Western countries: sweet smoked sausage, peppermint seeds, meat candies, breads of different colors, smoked chicken legs and so on.
The Chinese do not eat cheese and cottage cheese, do not drink kefir and do not eat with yogurt. According to one version, Chinese dwellers do not eat dairy products, because for many centuries only the richest of them could afford a cow. Although Hong Kong has become part of China, its inhabitants have a number of privileges – for example, they can travel to EU countries without visas. In China, tens of millions of trees are cut annually to produce about 80 billion disposable chopsticks.
The choice of religion – Since ancient times in China, Confucianism is used as a religion and the main ethical and philosophical teaching. However, in recent decades, the culture of Christianity has gained particular popularity here. Local experts estimate that by 2030 the largest number of Christians in the world will live in China. But this is where the amazing facts about China are just beginning.
General Rules – Tourists around the world are well aware of the Chinese New Year. The fact is that it is during this period that for 40 days all Chinese go on vacation, which for all citizens falls strictly at this time. That is why in the winter months around the world you can see millions of curious Chinese tourists who seem to be everywhere.
Special Services – Due to the fact that a huge number of people live in China, local traffic jams reach truly epoch-making proportions. In this regard, passenger delivery services are very popular here. Such companies send to your car two dexterous specialists on a motorcycle who “leak” to your car. One of the “specialists” is left to wait in your car, and the second one takes you on your motorcycle.
Athletes – Today in the field of e-sports you can meet a huge number of Chinese e-sportsmen. Which is actually quite surprising, because until 2014, not only many video games, but also the Playstation and Xbox consoles, were banned throughout the Middle Kingdom.
Best friends – Also in China, the services of “friends for hire” are very popular. You can hire a friend or girlfriend to go to a cafe with them, chat, discuss any thoughts you have, complain about them or even cry. Most often, the services of such specialists are used by young people to comfort their parents, who worry about the loneliness of their offspring. At the same time, “rolling” friends means communication without any sexual connotation.
Cave Life – Do you know that about 40 million Chinese still live in real caves? There are entire cave cities with all the necessary amenities: streets, electricity, gas, sewer and telephone. It is unlikely that such housing can be called comfortable, but it costs much less than houses or apartments.
