10 Amazing Facts You Didn’t Know About China

China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations and home to the largest population on the planet. With long history, various superstitions and abundant traditional customs, there are lots of interesting facts that you may not know about China.

#1. The first calendar and ice cream were discovered about 2000 B. C. in China

Paper, compass, explosive powder and printing are known as the “Four Greatest Inventions of China“. Chinese are also credited with having invented the wheel, the first calendar and ice cream, which were found about 2000 B.C. when someone mixed a soft milk and rice mixture with snow. Toilet paper was invented in China in the late 1300s, but was made for emperors only.

#2. There are twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac

There are twelve animals in the Chinese Zodiac. They are rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. A full Zodiac cycle is 12 years and a Chinese calendar cycle is 60 years. There is a widespread story about why these animals are chosen in Chinese Zodiac.

#3. Family name first and then first name

When you write your name in Chinese you should put your family name before your first name or given name. There are no middle names in Chinese name system.

#4. China has one of the world’s oldest and most varied cooking traditions

China has one of the world’s oldest and most varied cooking traditions. Every region and ethnic group has its own specialty food and different dining customs. Food plays an important part in festivals, family gatherings and business meetings. Most Chinese staple food is rice and noodles and main drink is tea. Chinese eat food with chopsticks made of wood, bamboo or plastic. Each year Chinese consume 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks.

#5. The longest continuous civilization and written language

China is often considered the world’s longest continuous civilization, with a long civilization history dating back to 6000 B.C. marked by some historians. China also has the world’s longest continuously used written language. The characters carved into 8，600-year-old tortoise shells proved that Chinese writing history could be traced back to about 9,000 years ago .

#6. Kite was invented by Chinese about 3,000 years ago

Chinese invented kites about 3,000 years ago. They were originally used to frighten the enemies in battles, Marco Polo (1254-1324), a Venetian merchant traveller, travelled to China and introduced kite to Europe and then spread to other areas of the world.

#7. Soccer actually originated in China

Many historians believe that soccer originated in China. China’s “Cuju” was regarded as the earliest soccer game by FIFA, the game was first played 2,300 years ago to train soldiers and check their physique. The ball was made of stuffed leather. The ancient painting shows that in front of the emperor’s palace, the opposing teams try to kick the ball through a small hole in a silken net.

#8. First mechanical clock was built in China

A Chinese civil servant named Su Song built the first mechanical clock between 1088 and 1092 A.D . The machine clock could not only tell the time but also track the constellations accurately. This exquisite machine reflects that Chinese application of mechanical knowledge had reached a very high level in ancient times.

#9. Chinese dragon is a symbol of prosperity, wisdom and power

Dragon is usually regarded as an evil creature in Western cultures, while it occupies the first position among the four greatest creatures in Chinese mythology, before phoenix, tiger, and tortoise. In Chinese culture dragon is typically associated with the emperor, wisdom, power and prosperity.

#10. Red symbolizes happiness 

The color “Red” represents happiness and propitiousness in Chinese tradition and is commonly used during various Chinese festivals and other happy occasions such as birthdays and weddings, business opening ceremonies.