Quick Facts about China

Almost one-fifth of the world population (1.3 bn) inhabits the Republic of China, the largest country in the Asian continent! Officially, it is the world's most populous country! One of the quick facts about China that will leave you in wonder is that the Chinese civilization is one of the oldest in the world. It has continued to evolve and develop for nearly six millennia, giving it a place amongst the longest continuous civilization. Chinese traditions and culture are certainly one of the oldest in existence in the world. Don't you miss any chance to visit China because nowhere else you'll find an amazing amalgamation of modern development and traditional lifestyle. Known for being the forerunner of the world for ages, China is all set to become the global leader. Economists have predicted that by 2012, China will become the biggest economy in the world.

Random Facts About China

• The 2008 Beijing Olympics hosted by China was the most expensive official games held till date in history. Almost $40 bn were spent in organizing the 2008 Olympic games.
• In China, it is necessary for all men between 18 to 22 years of age to serve in the military. Women in the same age group are also recruited for some specific jobs in the military.
• Tienanmen Square in Beijing is the world's largest public gathering place.
• China boasts of creating the world's largest man-made structure - the Great Wall of China.
• The world's largest hydroelectric power station The Three Gorges Dam is situated in the Yiling District of Yichang, in Hubei province, China.
• Chinese are renowned for their inventions of very useful things like paper, printing, compass, gunpowder and fireworks.
• In Chinese language, there are 40,000 characters unlike 26 alphabets of English language. A fourth grade student in China is expected to memorize nearly 2000 Chinese characters, while a college pass out can recognize nearly 4000 - 5000 characters. So if you want to learn Chinese, you got to have a strong memory.
• In area, China stands at the fourth largest country, after Russia, Canada and the U.S.
• Out of every five people in the world, one is a Chinese.
• The Giant Panda is considered a national treasure in China owing to its rapid extinction in the country. It has been a symbol of might and bravery in the Chinese culture. Other popular rare animals in China include Golden Monkey and White-flag Dolphin.
• The Chinese zodiac sign consists of 12 animals and each is represented by an animal. Unlike western calendars, Chinese believe that one's destiny can be predicted more accurately by considering four elements namely Earth, water, air and fire.
• The sect of Han Chinese constitute more than 90% of the Chinese population.
• The Communist Party of China is the only party in China with an estimated 70 million members. There are 8 minor parties under the supervision of the Communist Party of China.
• Buddhism is the most followed religion in China. Other religions that are practiced in China are Taoism, Islam and Christianity (Protestants and Catholic, both).
• The national anthem of China is, The 'East is Red'.
• China has the largest number of birds species in the world. Red Ibis, a Shaanxi Province's bird, on the verge of extinction is also a national treasure in China. Siberian white, common, black-necked, Sarus, hooded, white-naped, and demoiselle are some other birds' species popular in China.
• The national day in China is celebrated on 1st October in dedication to the formulation of the Republic of China on October 1, 1949.
• China is surrounded by a large number of countries in the Asian continent namely Korea, Mongolia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.
• The Chinese flag is made on red colored background, with a large yellow pointed star and four smaller yellow pointed stars in the upper left corner of the flag. The red color in the flag denotes the blood of heroes who gave their lives during the revolution. The yellow color symbolizes prosperity and growth. The bigger star denotes the Communist Party of China while the smaller stars are indicators of the unity of working class of China.

By going through these quick facts about China, you must have got resourceful information about this country. The sudden emergence of China as a super global power has taken the world by surprise. According to World Bank, in the last quarter century, more than half a billion people have been taken out of poverty in China. In between 1981 and 2004, as per the World Bank website, the number of people consuming a dollar per day fell from 64% to 10%. With agriculture and industry as the driving factors of the economy, employing nearly 70% of the work force, China has become an example of growth for several nations.