China is one of the world’s most captivating and beguiling nations, from its ancient history and magnificent sites to its breathtaking culture – it offers so much for adventurers to discover in this incredible land.
Here are 20 amazing facts about China that may surprise you! From being the world’s most populous nation to making soup with bird saliva, here are 20 fascinating details you may not know!
The Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is one of the world’s greatest monuments, constructed over centuries by various dynasties to protect China from raiders and invaders, often considered an icon of national togetherness and unity. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 and covering an incredible 6,855 km – often following hill and mountain crestlines across Chinese countryside as it snakes its way across this sprawling marvel – is considered an incredible achievement by any measure.
Long and winding, China’s Great Wall covers more than 13,000 miles (21,196 kilometers) over its length and traverses diverse terrain spanning mountains, deserts and grasslands. Composed of multiple sections built or rebuilt by different ruling dynasties over centuries past – serving as an unparalleled testament of ancient Chinese ingenuity and resilience – as well as being an emblematic representation of cultural heritage as a reminder from within China and throughout its borders as depicted in literature, films, artwork and more.
More than a million soldiers, commoners, and prisoners toiled to construct the wall; it earned itself the name “The Long Graveyard” due to hundreds of thousands of deaths at work on it. But this structure also served as a powerful symbol of national unification by connecting China in its early days while showing how its people could come together for its benefit.
The Great Wall features walls of various heights and widths with battlements and crenellations along its length, as well as strategic passes such as Jiayuguan and Shanhaiguan Passes, designed to withstand attacks by invaders; soldiers could easily defend it against invaders thanks to its varied heights and widths and its alternating high and low areas, making scaling of structures hard for attackers. Today its enduring presence serves as a reminder of Chinese civilization’s greatness – which continues to inspire pride among Chinese people today.
The Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese Zodiac is an age-old classification system which assigns each year an animal with distinct qualities to reflect one’s character and destiny. It forms an essential part of Chinese culture and serves as an indicator for individuals attempting to understand themselves more fully.
Born under the sign of the Tiger, your personality traits include confidence and ambition. People born under this zodiac sign tend to be natural leaders who often fill roles such as police officer, politician or entrepreneur. Furthermore, these individuals love sharing their wealth with others and love sharing it generously with them.
China, one of the world’s largest and most populous nations, boasts incredible sights and traditions to explore. If you love history or are simply eager to gain new knowledge, let these fun facts about China be your gateway into discovering more! We hope these gems of information about this beautiful land.
The invention of paper money
One of the Four Great Inventions, paper money was first developed in China around 960 CE. Prior to this invention, bronze and copper coins were used for exchanging goods; however, their weight made them impractical for travel; so merchants started using deposit receipts which they could then trade back at their shops (similar to modern-day pawnshops). By 11th century Song dynasty had established official paper currency known as Jiaozi to meet demand at that moment in time. One advantage of Jiaozi over other currencies is its ease of creation matching demand at that moment in time – another advantage over traditional forms of currency is printing; that can’s one advantage over currency that can match demand instantly by matching printing demand at that moment in time!
The invention of table tennis
Ping pong (or table tennis as it’s more commonly known) is an exciting sport that showcases elite athleticism and intense concentration, while providing an entertaining pastime to share with family and friends. Its history is both compelling and captivating: starting as an after-dinner game in England to becoming an Olympic sport today.
Ping pong has grown beyond being a leisurely pastime to become an internationally competitive sport with professional players from around the globe. Ping pong’s success can be attributed to its adaptability; being suitable for playing indoors in any climate with minimal equipment needs; as well as being easy for all ages and skill levels to learn quickly – making it an excellent hobby choice.
Beginning as a parlor game in the 19th century, backgammon evolved over time from its roots as an informal entertainment activity to become the sport it is known for today – featuring balls made of champagne corks and paddles fashioned from cigar box lids – into its current format using small celluloid balls with thin pieces of wood covered by rubber paddles as paddles; in 1901 it officially became organized.
Ping pong didn’t officially enter Olympic competition until 1988, though it had been an international world championship sport since 1957. The name derives from an English manufacturer called J. Jaques & Son Ltd in 1901 which trademarked and then sold the name to Parker Brothers in America; legal battles ensued afterward but today this name is synonymous with table tennis.
Played on a 2.74×1.53-metre rectangular table divided in two halves by a net fixed across its width in the centre, this game requires small rackets (bats or paddles) and lightweight hollow balls with racket heads that fit over them, to successfully cross over into their opponent’s half of the court and overshoot over it into victory.
The invention of football
Many people believe that football (soccer) was invented in England, but its early version can actually be traced back to China. Cuju was played during Han dynasty from 206 BC to 220 AD; its rules resembled modern football but prohibited the use of hands.
Other early versions of the game included Speedball (a mix between association football and basketball) and Volata (based on volleyball and European handball). There is evidence of similar ball games being played in ancient Greece called episkyros.
Be it an aspiring footballer or simply someone looking to gain more knowledge about China, there are endlessly fascinating and unusual facts and figures waiting for you. From paper money creation to its rich culture and ancient history – China never ceases to surprise its visitors! Take some time out of your schedule and take in this wonderful nation!