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

In high school, I had a deep desire to travel to China. I didn’t want to merely visit the People’s Republic of China, I wanted to drink the country like oolong tea and savor the history like Chinese food.

Determined to go beyond the typical American exchange student, I immersed myself in Chinese, built real connections with Chinese people, learned the Chinese language, lived with families in Southern China, studied native plant and animal species, and barged down the Yellow River.

Here are some key facts about China:

Keep reading to learn 3 wild fun facts about China!

China operates under a very powerful central government that was established following the Chinese Civil War (1927–1949), which ended with the Communist Party’s victory and the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, after centuries of imperial rule including the Qing Dynasty.

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

Red lanterns in China symbolize joy, celebration, and good fortune, especially during festivals like the Lunar New Year. While not directly rooted in Confucianism, they reflect traditional Chinese cultural values including harmony and respect, which are consistent with Confucian principles.

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

2. 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.

3. China might be king of the built world

1. China has 59 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. The Terracotta Army, discovered near Xi’an, was built during the reign of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE). It includes over 8,000 life-sized clay soldiers and is believed to have taken several decades to complete as part of the emperor’s mausoleum complex.
3. The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge, stretching 34 miles (55 kilometers).
4. China has several newly built urban developments referred to as “ghost cities”with extensive infrastructure and low initial population levels. These empty areas are part of China’s rapid urbanization strategy, being slowly populated over time.
5. China’s railway lines are immense. As of the mid-2020s, China’s rail network spans over 150,000 kilometers including the world’s largest high-speed rail system, long enough to encircle the Earth nearly four times if laid end to end.
6. Despite what you’ve read, the Great Wall of China is not visible in space. China borders North Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and the South China Sea. The wall didn’t keep any of its neighbors out.