China is full of exciting cultural moments. When learning Chinese on your own or through classes or apps, keep it enjoyable; otherwise you risk loosing motivation before reaching fluency.
China combines modern technology and ancient history. As a place of innovation and invention – including papermaking, magnetic compasses, printing processes and silk production – China stands out as an outstanding country to study.
1. China is the largest country in the world
China is unquestionably one of the largest countries on earth. It can be hard to fathom its vastness until you look at a map; China covers 9600,000 square kilometers and boasts an estimated population of over 1.4 billion (that accounts for 18% of global population!).
China ranks third in terms of land area after Russia and Canada; its precise ranking can depend on how comparisons are made; some sources place China third while others put it second.
Comparing China to the US, its land area covers 2% more area. This is partly because parts of US territory include water as part of their territory.
China boasts mountains, rivers and lakes that create natural marvels – the Great Wall of China, Giant Pandas and Floating Zhangjiajie Mountains are just a few.
Other interesting facts about China include:
China is home to 55 different ethnic groups, each with their own culture. Additionally, some people living in some northern regions live in cave dwellings as these can be constructed quickly at lower costs and easily heat or cool throughout the year.
Chinese beer consumers are the largest consumers in the world, drinking approximately 45.7 billion liters annually.
China’s national flag is red with five white stars: one large star that stands as a symbol of communist government and four smaller stars representing peasants, workers, middle-class citizens and soldiers.
2. China is the most populated country in the world
China is home to 1.42 billion people, making it the highest populated country on Earth and over twice as populated as Europe or America combined. China also boasts the most cities worldwide – 666 in total; 18 of these boast populations over one million.
Early Chinese civilization flourished due to intensive rice farming, which allowed a large population to quickly increase. Today, China is an advanced industrial nation with millions living in urban areas and an incredible variety of landscapes such as 33% mountains, 26% high plateaus, 19% basins/deserts/desert plains, and 12% plains.
China has a variety of ethnic groups. Han people comprise almost 91% of the population; other notable ethnic groups include Zhuang, Manchu, Hui and Miao peoples.
China boasts many cities, but also boasts many natural wonders – most notably, its iconic Great Wall which spans over 5,000 miles and draws tourists due to both its beauty and historical importance.
China is notable for several innovations that were created here – paper, printing, the compass, and gunpowder are collectively known as the Four Great Inventions; all were invented here. Chinese also developed unique forms of calligraphy and have long been revered for their teas, silk fabrics and porcelain production. Kites were invented as an effective means of testing wind conditions or measuring distance – once even being used by military troops as signaling devices!
3. China is the birthplace of Buddhism
China is home to one of the oldest Buddhist communities worldwide. Buddhism is a religion which emphasizes meditation as a means of relieving suffering through selflessness and meditation, with all beings being equal and living harmoniously within nature and society.
China is home to 56 ethnic groups, the Han constituting more than 1.4 billion. China is famed for its ancient traditions and beautiful landscapes; home of the world’s longest high-speed railway as well as 259 civil airports.
China invests a considerable amount in infrastructure. They boast an expansive highway network and fast train service called the Bullet Train that can travel up to 400 kilometers an hour. Beijing Time can cause confusion for travelers as it differs from GMT/EST times.
Chinese history can be divided into dynasties. China has seen more than 150 emperors throughout its long and turbulent history; among the more notable emperors are Han Gaozu, Tang Taizong, Zhu Yuanzhang, and Kangxi.
China is home to some stunning natural marvels, including the Great Wall and Yangtze River. The Yangtze is Asia’s longest river and plays a crucial part in China’s economy.
China is also home to some distinct cultural practices, including eating with chopsticks and following the Chinese Zodiac. Based on Chinese calendar, this 12 animal sign system serves as a predictor. China also boasts some of the world’s rarest animals such as pandas. These iconic creatures only reside within its bamboo forests in southwestern China and represent it.
4. China is the largest country in the world by area
China covers an immense expanse of land and boasts an array of terrain. Mountains, high deserts, arid plateaus, lush forests, beautiful coastlines and thousands of rivers – including Yangtze – create its diverse geography. China also possesses an ancient culture; landmarks such as Great Wall and Forbidden City attest to this. Plus it’s one of the world’s most populous countries with over 1.4 billion people calling China home!
China is the largest country by area in the world. However, the exact ranking depends on which criteria are used to measure size; some sources like Encyclopedia Britannica consider Russia the biggest nation while the UN places China first on their ranking system.
Russia covers an enormous 17,098,250 km2, nearly twice as large as Canada and more densely populated with many cities having populations over one million, giving China an advantage in terms of land mass over Canada.
China is home to an extremely diverse culture and population. As a global powerhouse in many industries, including technology and manufacturing, its impact can be felt globally. China boasts an ancient heritage dating back millennia; some of its iconic landmarks include the Great Wall, Giant Pandas, Terracotta Army as well as being renowned as being home to Buddhism itself and tourism and agriculture industries – it even holds superstitions such as believing certain numbers are lucky or unlucky; for instance 4 is considered unlucky because its sound similarity sounds similar to death!
5. China is the largest country in the world by population
China is the world’s most populous nation, home to over 1.425 billion people. China also boasts the longest high-speed railway network and largest sea-crossing bridge. Home of iconic structures like the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Terracotta Army; as well as being an import/export powerhouse and possessing thousands of years of history dating back.
China is home to diverse terrain ranging from lush green hills and snowy mountain peaks, as well as vast desert expanses. Mount Everest stands as the highest point in the world and can be found straddling China-Nepal border, while other attractions include world’s deepest and third largest lakes (Yangtze River is over 6,300 miles long) located within its borders.
China is home to breathtaking natural landscapes as well as vibrant culture and traditions that span generations. Most Chinese are Han, however there are 55 other ethnic groups with unique traditions, languages and customs – some such as Huis make up over 91% of its population!
China, one of the most populous nations on Earth, has long enjoyed peaceful coexistence with its neighbors. China is a leading producer and exporter of goods; often known as “the world’s factory.” Additionally, it is one of the fastest-growing economies; thanks to abundant supplies of energy and materials from natural resources which helps fuel this rapid economic expansion – in 2011-13 alone China used more cement than America did during all of 20th Century!