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Facts about China

We found 30 facts about China

A civilization that has existed continuously for 5000 years

China is the most populous country with the longest-living civilization in the world. It is the home of many inventions and a treasure trove of folk medicine. What other secrets does China hide? Find out.

China
1
There are 1.42 billion people in the People's Republic of China.

It is a country that ranks first in terms of population in the world. Right behind China is India, which, according to estimates, may overtake China in terms of population as early as 2023.

The natural increase in China in 2021 was 0.034%, in India in the same year it was as much as 0.68%.

2
The name "China" most likely comes from the Qin dynasty ("Chin").

The first emperor was Qin Shi Huang, who lived from 259 to 210 BC. He united China in 221 BC and initiated a dynastic period that lasted continuously until 1912.

Qin Shi Huang lived from 259 to 210 BC. He is called the First Emperor, the ruler who ended the Warring States Period by conquering six Chinese states in succession.

The first emperor was born in the city of Handan, the capital of the then-state of Zhao. Currently, over 1.3 million people live in Handan.

He ascended the throne of Qin at the age of thirteen, in 247 BC. However, he received full power only in 238 BC. The new king, after suppressing the rebellions, started a great military campaign and in a very short time conquered all the other Chinese countries. The first to fall was Han (annexed in 230), followed by Zhao (228), Wei (225), Chu (223), Yan (222), and the last of the great kingdoms - Qi (221).

3
China is the 4th largest country in the world.

The countries with larger territories than China are Russia, Canada, and the USA.

The area of China is 9.596.960 km². Due to such a huge area, China borders as many as fourteen countries.

In this country, there is the highest peak on Earth - Mount Everest, and the highest plateau on Earth - the Tibetan Plateau.

4
There are approximately 5000 islands off the coast of China.
5
Toilet paper was invented in China in the late 14th century.

It was intended only for the emperor.

6
The Chinese invented kites about 3000 years ago.

They were used during battles to intimidate the opponent.

7
Although Ping-Pong is one of the most popular games in China, it originated in the UK.
8
Fortune cookies are not a traditional Chinese custom at all.

They were invented in 1920 at the Key Heong Noodle factory in San Francisco.

9
The color of mourning in most of China is white.

This is how the Chinese show their grief after the loss of their loved ones.

10
Despite the huge size of the territory, China has only one-time zone.
11
It is believed that football was invented in China about 3000 years ago.
12
The Chinese script that is still in use today was developed 4000 years ago.
13
A popular entertainment in China is cricket fighting.

Many Chinese children take care of their cricket and treat it as a pet.

14
The Chinese were the first to invent the water mill.

It was already in the year 31 AD. It took Europeans another 1200 years to reach the same level of water engineering.

15
The first mechanical clock was invented in China between 1088 and 1092 AD.

It was built by Su Song, one of the citizens. The device precisely indicated the time of day and allowed you to track constellations in the sky, so you could precisely set horoscopes.

16
China is very diverse geographically.

33% of the country is mountains, 26% highlands, 19% deserts and reservoirs, 12% plains and 10% hills.

17
The highest peak on earth.

China's highest peak is Mount Everest (8848 m).

18
One of the lowest points on Earth can also be found in China.

This is the Turfańska Valley, the bottom of which lies at a depth of -154 m below sea level. The Turfan Basin is located in western China, in the Xinjiang autonomous region.

19
China borders as many as 14 countries.

China's neighbors are Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and North Korea.

20
The proclamation of the People's Republic of China took place in 1949.
21
China lies in three climatic zones.
22
The total length of the Great Wall of China is 6259 km

The first fragments of the Great Wall of China were built in the 3rd century BC. It was supposed to be both a barrier against invaders and a symbol of the power of the first emperor of China.

23
There are as many as 56 different ethnic groups living in China.

The largest group is the Han - it constitutes as much as 91% of the total population. Each of the remaining groups has its own distinct culture, and some have a separate language and writing.

24
There is enormous religious diversity within China.

The four largest religions in China are Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and Christianity.

25
About 35 million Chinese live in caves.

Due to the ease of construction, effective heating, and bearable temperatures on hot days, some Chinese citizens settle in caves. A very popular region where we can find many of these types of habitats is Shaanxi Province.

26
Gunpowder and fireworks were invented in China.

During the Tang Dynasty (June 18, 618 – June 1, 907), Chinese alchemists developed gunpowder. Soon afterward, explosives, smoke, and incendiary materials were developed on its basis. China is the largest producer of fireworks, it is estimated that 85% of all firecrackers produced come from China.

27
The Terracotta Army is the largest collection of life-size human figures in the world.

There are over 8100 clay figures and new ones are discovered from time to time. The originator of the idea to create the terracotta army was, of course, the first emperor of China - Qin Shi Huang.

28
In the 4th century BC The Chinese started extracting natural gas.

They used it as a heat source. Western civilization made the same discovery 2300 years later.

29
The crossbow was also invented in China.

They were also the first to develop chemical weapons - more than 2000 years before World War I when warfare gases were first used in the West.

30
The Chinese practice martial arts very often.

This tradition comes from ancient farmers and hunters.

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