Soaring mountains, plunging canyons, giant pandas and just a single time zone – we share the most interesting facts about China
I visited China nearly 20 years ago and found a country on the march. China may be one of the world’s most ancient civilisations with a continuous culture stretching back thousands of years, but today’s relatively modern nation – the People’s Republic of China – was founded in 1949 and is more like several different countries rolled into one.
This is hardly surprising considering 21st-century China’s sheer enormity. The country is off-the-scale massive in terms of area, population, economy, culture, military, history, cuisine, language, walls… I could go on.
No wonder then, as Kia discovered on her recent visit, there are endless things to see and do in this immense land that’s stocked with natural wonders and man-made marvels. Below, we share just some of the most interesting facts about China we’ve learned during our visits.
1. China’s real name means ‘Middle Kingdom’
China’s English name comes from the Qin (Chin) 3rd century BC dynasty. The Chinese name Zhongguo translates as ‘Middle Kingdom’ or ‘Central Nation’.
– Source: CIA World Factbook
2. China is the world’s second most populous country
With over 1.4 billion people, China is the world’s second most populous country after India. It is also one of only two countries with more than one billion people. China was the most populous country from 1950 until it was surpassed by India in 2023.
– Source: World Bank
3. China is a communist state
China is one of the world’s five communist states. The others are Cuba, Laos, Vietnam and North Korea (although technically the North Korean government doesn’t refer to itself as communist).
– Source: History Channel
4. Western internet is blocked in China
Thousands of western apps and websites are blocked in China in what’s known as the Great Firewall of China. The ruling communist party perceives an open internet as a threat to the state.
– Source: The Guardian
5. Millions of people in China live in caves
More people live in caves in China than anywhere else in the world. Approximately 30 to 40 million people live in caves carved from porous soil in the Shaanxi Province. China’s current president, Xi…
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