A #thread about some intriguing facts about China.
1. The modern word “China” most likely derives from the name of the Qin (pronounced “chin”) dynasty. First Emperor Qin Shi Huang (260-210 B.C.) of the Qin dynasty first unified China in 221 B.C.,
1. The modern word “China” most likely derives from the name of the Qin (pronounced “chin”) dynasty. First Emperor Qin Shi Huang (260-210 B.C.) of the Qin dynasty first unified China in 221 B.C.,
...beginning an Imperial period which would last until A.D. 1912.
2. China is the fourth largest country in the world (after Russia, Canada, and the U.S.). It has an area of 3,719,275 square miles (slightly smaller than the U.S.) and its borders with other countries total more than 117,445 miles.
3. Not all Chinese look like "Asians". There are 55 officially recognized ethnic minorities in China and some of them are genetically Turkish, Central Asians, or even Russians. Here is a photo of Uyghur Chinese female PLA soliders.
4. Although major western social media like YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter are blocked in China, there exist a wide variety of local social media platforms within China.
5. The significance of Mahjong, a Chinese gambling game, can be compared to the significance of football, baseball, and basketball combined to Americans and the rest of the world.
6. It is reported that there are about 300,000 Africans living and working in Guangzhou city, the capital of Guangdong province. But a large proportion overstay their visas and are staying at an illegal status.
7. The current China's government is only 65 years old. From 2000 BC to 1911 AD, China underwent 83 dynasties and 559 emperors.
8. China has an estimated 80-60 Million muslims. The bulk of them reside in the city of Xianjiang.
Below is an open-air Islam worship gathering in Xinjiang.
Below is an open-air Islam worship gathering in Xinjiang.
9. Kobe Bryant is the most popular athlete in China. No one knows why.
10. Chinese women usually keep their last name/family name once getting married.
They don’t usually take their new spouse’s name. Many children also choose to take on their mothers family name rather than father’s.
They don’t usually take their new spouse’s name. Many children also choose to take on their mothers family name rather than father’s.
11. China has 0 tolerance for drugs. It’s guaranteed jail time and even death penalty depending on the specific drug.
Even foreigners accidentally trying to bring illegal drugs will receive a life time ban, and jail time before deportation.
Even foreigners accidentally trying to bring illegal drugs will receive a life time ban, and jail time before deportation.
...Personally, I think it's a hangover from the opium wars.
12. Each year in China is represented by 12 different animals.
It’s highly sought out that a child is born on the year of the dragon. Dragon is the most powerful animal. Families will go as far as having two kids, 12 years apart.
It’s highly sought out that a child is born on the year of the dragon. Dragon is the most powerful animal. Families will go as far as having two kids, 12 years apart.
13. China soldiers train with a needle/pin in their neck collar sticking up, and crosses on their backs. This ensures they keep their head up and their posture straight.
14.China has the largest shopping mall and trade wholesale center in the world. The Futian International Trade Mall has over 75,000 stores.
15. China overall has too many men compared to women. There are tens of millions of Men in China that can never get married because there aren’t enough women.
16. Foreigners can own land, property, and businesses in China. It’s not that hard to open a business in China as a foreigner.
There is a process for it, and it doesn’t require marriage. (sure marriage makes things easier).
There is a process for it, and it doesn’t require marriage. (sure marriage makes things easier).
17. Numbers in China each represent different things. The number 4 for instance sounds like the word for ‘Death’. Which is a very unlucky number. Try to avoid this, including giving gifts in 4’s.
...The number 8 however is very lucky as it sounds like the word ‘to Prosper’. Giving 8’s is great in China.
18. China also has superstitions and traditional beliefs dating back a long time. Here are some: 'Wear a green hat' is an expression that Chinese use when a woman cheats on her husband or boyfriend because the phrase sounds similar to the word for cuckold.
...So don’t wear a green hat.
19. The chinese phrase for 'giving a clock' sounds exactly like the Chinese words for 'attending a funeral ritual' and thus it is bad luck to gift clocks or watches.
20. It is undesirable to give someone a fan or an umbrella as a gift. The words fan "shàn" (扇) and umbrella "sǎn" sound like the word "sǎn", meaning to scatter, or to part company. So if you want a friendship or marriage to end, to split up, then you would give an umbrella.
21.All of the world’s panda’s are in China.
Except for the ones that China ‘lends’ out to other countries temporarily.
China is the official panda bear home.
Except for the ones that China ‘lends’ out to other countries temporarily.
China is the official panda bear home.
22. Haggling(pricing goods) and buying in China come hand to hand. You are expected to haggle before you purchase anything.
Haggling is courteous to the seller and shows you are not a weak person. It’s also fun.
Haggling is courteous to the seller and shows you are not a weak person. It’s also fun.
23. China has the highest rate of hymenorrhaphy surgeries.
This is the restoring of female virginity and it's quite popular in China, usually done by women before they get married so husbands never know.
This is the restoring of female virginity and it's quite popular in China, usually done by women before they get married so husbands never know.
24. China cuts about 3.8 million trees each year just to make chopsticks.
25. China has the largest military in the world, with about 2.18 million active military personne and 510 thousand reserve personnel.
