China is a vast and amazing country with diverse cultures, famous attractions, huge population and rich heritage. On the east of China, there are great beautiful oceans and on the other side there are miles of desert. China has an interesting historical background and civilizations that covers over 5000 years. China is undeniably the leading source of all the consumer electronics, producing more high technology and low range products than any other country. It is known for its low cost gadgets and toys. China is the second largest economy of the world and is the world’s fastest growing economy. Leaving all the countries behind, China has emerged as the largest exporter and importer of the world. From electronics to population, from inventions to government, China is known for a lot many things but here are top ten best things that China is famous for:
10. Century Eggs
Also known as pidan, preserved egg, hundred year egg, millennium egg, Century Egg is one of the most famous cuisines of China. It is prepared by preserving egg of duck, quail or chicken with a mixture of salt, clay, rice husks and quicklime for weeks to months. Once the process is finished, the yellow color of the yolk turns into dark green or grey and the white color outside becomes dark brown. The yolk becomes creamy with an odor of ammonia. Some eggs also have patterns like pine branches on the white surface and hence it is called pine patterned egg.
9. Terracotta Army
Terracotta armies, also known as “Terra Cotta Warriors and Horses”, are sculptures made of terracotta representing armies of the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Hang. It is believed that the army will protect the emperor after his death and thus they were buried along with the emperor in 210-209 BC. The collection of armies contains warriors, chariots, horses and cavalry horses. Other figures like acrobats, officials, strongmen etc. are also found in different pits. The figures vary in their shape, size and roles and generals are the tallest amongst all. They were founded by a local farmer in 1974 and currently it is estimated that there are 8000 soldiers, 520 horses and 130 chariots buried in the pits.
8. Giant Panda
Giant panda is a black and white mammal which is one among the various factors that makes china famous. As they are peaceful they are universally loved. Giant pandas are bamboo eating member of the bear family. They are around 5-6 feet tall and also very heavy; weighs around 350lbs. They can be easily traced in temperate-zone bamboo forests in central of China. They are one of the best recognized but rarest mammals in the world. Giant panda these days is found in the list of endangered species due to deforestation and other developments.
7. Feng Shui- Luck and Fortune
Chinese culture is known for several colors and shades. But the color red has a great significance; it is the only color which is admired by the majority of Chinese. It is a symbol of fortune, courage, loyalty and good luck. Usually red envelope is preferred while giving monetary gifts to the relatives and loved ones. One can easily make out that the Chinese restaurants are mostly painted with this as it is said to bring lots of fortune. They also represent numbers in the case of luck and fortune. The number 8 is lucky while number 4 is unlucky according to their belief. They believe that the number 8 is same as to the word wealth in Chinese culture.
6. One child Policy
China is famous for its one child policy. It restricts couples to have only one child, while lenient in few cases, like twins, rural couples, ethnic minorities, and parents who are both children themselves. Urban married couples are allowed to have only one child and if they do not abide to the rule then they are punished. Parents with twins or triplets are excluded from the society and also restricted from any kind of bonuses from their job. Hong Kong and Macau are exempted from this policy and also foreigners living in China. The Chinese government took this extreme step to alleviate social, economic, and environmental problems from their economy.
5. Ice and Snow festival
The annual festival, Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival is the world’s largest snow and ice festival. The festival takes place, since 1963, at Harbin which is located in Northeast China where the average temperature in summer is 21.2 degree Celsius and in winters, -16.8 degree Celsius. Generally, the festival starts in January and lasts for a month. The entire city is decorated with ice sculptures using modern laser lights to traditional ice lanterns. There are also buildings which are made with 2-3 layers of thick ice taken from the River Songhua. The 2007 festival had a Canadian theme with a sculpture of Norman Bethune, a Canadian doctor. The sculpture was a Guinness Record as the largest snow sculpture which was made using 13,000 cubic meters of snow.
4. The Great Wall of China
You cannot miss The Great Wall of China when you think of China. The wall is one amongst the Seven Wonders of the World and is something that China is always proud of. Built in 7th century BC, along the historical borders of China from east to west line, the wall was constructed to protect China and its states from intrusion of various nomadic groups including Mongolians, warlike people and military forces. The most famous wall is the one built by the Qin Shi Hang, the first emperor of China. The wall is spread over an area of 6700 km and is made up of stone, wood, tamped earth, tiles, brick and various other materials. It is said that the wall is so huge that one can see it from the space and it is known for its mesmerizing beauty.
3. Inventions
China is famous for its inventions worldwide. Hundreds of inventions have taken place in China till date and other countries are grateful to it for its great inventions. Some of the greatest inventions by China are that of paper, gunpowder and printing. Paper was made by mixing fish nets, tree bark, hemp and creating a pulp which was later dried in sunlight. Gunpowder was made in the Tang Dynasty by mixing sulphur and saltpeter along with charcoal. Toilet paper was also invented in China especially for the emperors. Also, kite was invented by China to scare the enemies in a battle. Chinese emperor, Shennong discovered tea which he considered as a necessity of life.
2. Li River
The Li River or Lijiang river flows from Zhujiang Pier to Yangzhou, is an artist’s masterpiece. The landscape consists of beautiful hills, steep cliffs, spectacular caves and farming villages, and is lined with bamboo groves. In ancient days it was also called Gui Water, Gui River and East River. It passes through the third largest city which is the political, economic, cultural and tourist hub of that Region. The climate here is throughout mild subtropical. Li River has rich natural landscapes and is a centre for tourist attraction home and abroad.
1. Population
China is the most overpopulated country all around the world. The number of people residing in the country is around 1,308,912,829. The total of world’s population is approximately 7.2 billion and China represents a full 20% of the world’s population which means one in every five people on the planet is a resident of China. It is anticipated that by 2030, China’s population will be at its peak and then will slowly start dropping. In China on an average, each woman gives birth to 1.7 children throughout her life. The population of China has been an issue since a long time. In the middle of the 20th century, when the population was increasing rapidly, Government of China came up with “one child policy” to limit the growth. Along with the abnormal population, China also has an abnormal male-female ratio. Unlike other countries, China has more boys than girls maybe because of the preference of boys in Chinese families.