5 Wild Fun Facts About China That Will Leave You Itching to Visit

China’s modern beliefs and much of Chinese culture are rooted in Confucianism

Red lanterns symbolize joy and virtue deeply rooted in Confucian ideals.

Confucianism is a belief system founded by Confucius (551-479 BCE) in China. Chinese classical values focus on moral integrity, familial respect, social harmony and governmental responsibility. Confucianism didn’t set the official language (Mandarin Chinese), but it set forth a form of engagement with the government and with others that is specific to China.

Confucianism influenced Chinese government in that it advocated for the virtuous government official and wise leader to rule by example. It pushed for a Chinese government based on meritocracy and civil service exams.

On the personal side, Confucianism details five relationships for social harmony, based on mutual respect and defined roles:

• ruler and subject
• father and son
• husband and wife
• elder brother and younger brother
• friend and friend

The Chinese invented paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder among other things

1. The Chinese were probably the first civilization to use silks, jade, bronze and paper to make art; notably the artistic writing called calligraphy was invented in China.
2. Soccer (football) was first played in ancient China 2,200 years ago and was originally called ‘Tsu Chu’ (kicking ball).
3. The earliest chopsticks were recovered in China.
4. The Chinese Zodiac Calendar was invented in China. The Chinese Zodiac is made up of 12 animal signs and is based on a lunar calendar.
5. But perhaps the most important invention in Chinese history is ice cream which was invented in ancient China around 4,000 years ago by combining milk, rice mixture and snow.

Student travelers practicing calligraphy, an ancient Chinese art form that began with the invention of paper.

China might be king of the built world

1. China has 55 UNESCO World Heritage sites, the most worldwide tied with Italy. The most famous UNESCO World Heritage Site in China might be the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Forbidden City is a palace in central Beijing that was home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties from 1420 to 1924. The Forbidden City is now a public museum and one of the world’s top tourist spots.
2. Another famous UNESCO site is the Terracotta Army in Xi’an, China which took 37 years to build and consists of 8,000 clay soldiers, or Terracotta warriors, guarding the Emperor’s tomb.
3. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge, stretching 34 miles (55 kilometers).
4. China has “ghost cities,” which are newly built urban areas with vast infrastructure and nobody living there.
5. China’s railway lines are immense. China builds rail at a staggering pace. It already has the largest high-speed rail network in the world. When combined, China’s railway could loop around the earth twice and they are still building.
6. Despite what you’ve read, the Great Wall of China is not visible in space.

China is home to rare plant and animal species found in no other country

1. No list of China’s forest wildlife is complete without the giant pandas native to the misty mountains of south-central China. The pandas eat mostly bamboo, a woody evergreen plant species.
2. The golden snub-nosed monkey is known for its blue face and golden fur. This monkey inhabits the forests of central and southwestern China.
3. The South China tiger is endangered and native to southern China.
4. The Chinese alligator: Many reptile species live in China. The Chinese alligator is a small species native to the lower Yangtze River.
5. Sichuan takin: A large, goat-antelope-like muscular mammal with a thick, shaggy coat, found in Sichuan province.
6. The Chinese giant salamander has the distinction of being the world’s largest amphibian.
7. The Père David’s deer is known for its backward-pointing antlers.
8. The Yangtze River dolphin or Baiji is an endangered freshwater dolphin species that might actually be extinct due to the destruction of animal habitats and Yangtze River pollution.

Pandas are some of the most loved and iconic animals around the world.

China responded after the environment paid a huge cost for modernization and the focus on economy

About a third of China’s land area is mountainous and 64% of people live in urban areas. Perhaps motivated by the press about environmental damage, China’s very powerful central government from creating reserves to protect plant and animal species for younger generations. China has created more natural reserve than any nation on the planet over the last few years. The following reserves are some of those identified for plant and animal habitats.

Name	Location	Year Established
Wolong National Nature Reserve	Sichuan Province	1963
Shennongjia National Nature Reserve	Hubei Province	1982
Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve	Jilin Province	1960
Tibetan Antelope National Nature Reserve (Hoh Xil Nature Reserve)	Qinghai Province	1995
Qinling Mountains Nature Reserve	Shaanxi Province	1988
Poyang Lake Nature Reserve	Jiangxi Province	1983
Xishuangbanna Nature Reserve	Yunnan Province	1958
Sanjiangyuan National Nature Reserve	Qinghai Province	2000
Wuyanling National Nature Reserve	Zhejiang Province	2001
Dongzhai Port Nature Reserve	Hainan Province	2002
Qianjiangyuan National Forest Park	Zhejiang Province	2005
Nanji Islands National Nature Reserve	Zhejiang Province	2007
Baishuijiang National Nature Reserve	Gansu Province	2009
Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve	Zhejiang Province	2001

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