Top 17 Funny Facts about China

Facts about China. Photo: Kids love to know

Are you looking for facts about China? Then you’ve come to the right place! Here are 17 Interesting China Facts KnowInsider suggests to you, and further down you can also read some more general facts about China that might be good to know!

To make this even more fun, I want to challenge you. How many of these China facts did you already know before reading this? Share your result in the comment section! Or why not challenge some Chinese friends?

Football was invented here. Photo: Fox Business

1. Football (soccer) was invented here

2.200 years ago, the game that later turned into football (soccer) was invented in China.

The world’s first soccer ball was a leather ball filled with feathers and hair, and the game was called ‘Tsu’ Chu,’ which literally means ‘kicking ball.

2. China is the world’s most populous country

With more than 1.4 billion people, China holds the world record for having the largest population on Earth. India is not far behind though with 1.3 billion people, and they’re estimated to take over the 1 place in a few years.

3. The Sunrise in parts of China can be as late as 10 AM

Despite being a wide and large country, China only has one-time zone – Standard Chinese time. This means that in the West of China, the sunrise can be as late as 10 AM!

This means that when it’s 6 o’clock in the nation’s capital, it’s 6 o’clock almost 3,000 miles further west, in Kashgar.

4. The Elderly Rights Law

If you have parents that are over 60 years old, it’s illegal to not visit them regularly. This is definitely one of the most interesting China facts, since, in many other countries, the elders are being forgotten or put into rest-homes, as the Swedish nomad.

5. China has the world’s largest economy

In 2014, experts claimed that the Chinese economy has become the largest economy in the world. It’s the biggest exporter and is considered the largest economy in the world when it comes to purchasing power parity.

However, in nominal GDP, it’s the second largest economy.

The Chinese New Year celebration. Photo: NPR

6. The Chinese New Year celebration lasts for 15 days

First of all, the New Year in China and the European or American New Year is not being celebrated on the same date. The first day of the year falls on the new moon between January 21 and February 20, so it differs from year to year.

Secondly, this celebration is ongoing for 15 days instead of just 1 that westerners celebrate the new year.

Definitely one of the many interesting facts about China!

7. Fortune cookies are not a traditional Chinese custom

Did you know that fortune cookies actually were invented in San Fransisco? Today more than 3 billion fortune cookies are made each year, but it’s not a traditional Chinese custom, even if many westerners think otherwise.

8. China has the world’s largest standing army

Did you think that the United States has the largest army in the world? Guess again. The mighty superpower country China has 2,183,000 personnel they can send to war if they have to.

That’s almost 1 million more than what the U.S Army has in active duty.

9. In 2020, it’s estimated to be 30-40 million more Chinese men than women

This is a big problem that China is facing due to the one-child policy that has been standard for the last decades. Since they only can have one child per family, it has led to the fact that a lot of parents want a son and not a daughter.

China is still very traditional as a country, and because of parents only wanting a son, it has led to the problem that about 30-40 million men can’t find a Chinese wife to marry because they’re already taken.

China’s railway lines. Photo: NPR

10. China’s railway lines are so extensive and long that they could loop around Earth twice

China is the 4th largest country by area in the world, but the railways are widely expanded throughout the country. In fact, the Chinese railway is so extensive that it could loop around the Earth, not once, but TWICE!

11. A new skyscraper is built every five days

No country on Earth is growing as fast as China. The cities are being transformed fast, and on average, there is a new skyscraper somewhere in the country every 5 days.

In a period of a year (365 days), China gets at least 73 new skyscrapers!

12. One in every five people in the world is Chinese

If you didn’t think learning Chinese was important, then you might need to re-think that thought. About 1 in 5 people worldwide are Chinese, which in a percentage equal to 20% of the total population in the world.

While most of them reside within the People’s Republic of China, it theoretically means that if you meet 5 people, at least one of them will be Chinese.

13. Facebook has been banned in China since 2009

But there are still at least 95 million Chinese users who get by the block via various VPN services. With that said, most people use other social media channels such as Baidu, WeChat and Sina Weibo.

They even have their own version of YouTube called Youku Tudou.

14. The Terracotta Warriors were found by farmers

It’s estimated that the life-size terracotta figures of warriors took over 30 years to create and they were buried with the Emperor Qin Shi Huang in 210–209 BC to protect him in the afterlife. They were hidden for centuries until they were discovered by local farmers in 1974. It’s a must-see attraction for many who visit Xi'an.

15. The Great Wall of China is actually a collection of walls

It is a common belief that the Great Wall is just one continuous length. However, this iconic architectural wonder is actually a network of walls spanning over 20,000 km. Another interesting fact, workers used glutinous rice flour in the mortar due to its stickiness.

16. Chinese food varies greatly from region to region

During your travels in China, make sure to try the tasty regional dishes. Chinese food is based on five key flavors, sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy, which need to all balance with each other to form one harmonious dish. Chinese food eaten in China is much fresher and more unusual than you would get in your local takeaway. Peking duck, Cantonese beef soup, fried rice, and pork noodles are just some of the specialties served here, as .

Pandas spend the majority day eating. Photo: NPR

17. Pandas spend the majority day eating

Pandas’ famous diet mainly consists of bamboo and they spend between 10-16 hours a day eating! Giant Pandas are the national animal of China and unlike other species of bear, they do not hibernate, as travel department.

If you find the above-mentioned information is useful, please share and comments your thought down below.

ONLY in CHINA: 7 Weird Things You May Not See Anywhere Else “We wouldn’t do it!” — that’s the thought many tourists get when they visit China. This article will tell you about interesting events and even ...

What is Thanksgiving Day's celebration in Canada, Germany, China, Grenada, Nigeria? Thanksgiving may be seen as an American holiday, but the United States isn't the only place in the world where people give thanks annually. And ...

Only in China: Top 5 strangest and wierdest stories Only in China: China is a country that has one of the largest populations in the world, it has a massive economy, and it is ...