Facts About China: The Land and Its People
Some of the least known facts about China revolve around its vast land mass, more than likely due to its status as a communist nation where outsiders are sometimes restricted. We have a tendency to view the planet’s most populace nation as being a world away. Really it is about a half a world away.
Basic Facts About China
The official name of this Asian country is People’s Republic of China. It is the fourth largest country in the world in land area at 3.6 million square miles, but it is first when it comes to population, at over 1 billion.
China is on the continent of Asia. Russia and Mongolia are to the north. North Korea and South Korea border China to the northeast along with the Yellow Sea. The East China Sea is due east, and the South China Sea is to the southeast. The western edge of China shares borders with Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan. To the south is Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma).
China is a Communist country, and military duty is required of every Chinese man and woman between the ages of 18 and 22. The official religion is basically no religion, or atheism. There are, however, pockets of Daoist, Buddhist and Christian believers scattered throughout this land.
The capital of China is Beijing, which is located in northeastern China near the shores of the Yellow Sea. Beijing is the second largest city in China with a population of over 10 million people. The biggest city in China is Shanghai, with more than 12 million people. Shanghai is in eastern China along the coast of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. Other large Chinese cities include Tianjin near Beijing, Wuhan along the Yangtze River and Hong Kong on the southeast coast.
The official language of China is Mandarin Chinese, which is a very artistic form of language that dates back to ancient times.
Interesting Facts About China
China is responsible for many important inventions, including paper, explosive powder, printing, the wheel, the first calendar and the compass. Even more importantly, the Chinese gave the world noodles and ice cream. Yum.
The Chinese language has more than 20,000 different characters, but it is estimated that the average Chinese person only knows and uses around 5,000 of them.
The Great Wall of China is one of the most extravagant construction projects humans have ever attempted. It is so expansive that it can be clearly seen from space.
The 2008 Summer Olympics took place in Beijing, China, and the Chinese won a record number of medals. Many agree that the opening ceremony put on by the Chinese was the most extravagant and best ever Olympic display.