It is basic knowledge that China has been the most populous country in the world for centuries. But China has so much more when it comes to being on top of the world in many categories. In this article, we present the funniest and most unprecedented facts about China. Not only will you expand your knowledge of China and your position in the world, but you will also be able to use the facts to impress others.
The most curious facts about China: the longest bridge in the world connects Hong Kong and Macao
The longest bridge in the world connects Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao. The bridge connecting the ends of the Pearl River Delta is 55 km long. The underwater tunnel stretches for several kilometers. The object was opened after nine years of construction works in October 2018. Completion of the project took two years longer than expected.
The HZM (Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao) Bridge facilitates the movement of millions of people from the region. It has greatly reduced the travel time between Zhuhai and Hong Kong, from four hours to just 30 minutes. The bridge was designed to last 120 years and cost 127 billion RMB. According to calculations, 400 thousand tons of steel that were used would be enough to build 60 Eiffel towers.
The Grand Canal of China is the longest man-made canal
The Grand Canal running from Hangzhou to Beijing is the longest man-made transportation canal in the world. The first works on the canal began in the 5th century BC. C. Its total length is about 1800 km and its widest point is 350 m. By the 13th century, it was already 2 km long, connecting five rivers: the Yangtze River, the Yellow River, the Hai River, the Huai River, and the Qiantang River. The Grand Canal has been recognized and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
The fastest trains is another of the facts about China
Many people may be convinced that there are no faster trains than the Japanese Shinkansen. In fact, they are fast, but not faster than the Shanghai Transfast Magnetic Line (Maglev). Its trains, which operate without wheels, can accelerate up to 501 km per hour, while in regular operation, up to 431 km per hour. In addition, it accelerates up to 350 km per hour in two minutes.
Trains run from Longyang Road to Shanghai Pudong Airport and arrive at the airport in about 7-8 minutes. There are more than 570 seats available on the train for passengers.
Fun Facts About China: China’s Highways Are The Longest In The World
There are more than 142 km of highways available in China, which places China first in the world. The total length of the roads is approximately 4.8 million km. Hong Kong has one of the best overland roads in terms of quality. In 2018, RMB 997 billion was invested in highways, 7.7% more than in 2017. According to the data collected, the average daily annual traffic on the national highway exceeds 26 thousand vehicles.
The busiest port is in China
More than half of the ports in the top ten busiest ports in the world are in China. The busiest container port is the Port of Shanghai, which has been in operation for almost 200 years. The port faces the East China Sea to the east and Hangzhou Bay to the south. In 2018, the port handled more than 42 million TEUs, surpassing the Port of Singapore by approximately 5.5 million TEUs. To improve efficiency, the Port of Shanghai invested in the Yangshan automated terminal.
Fun Facts About China: The Chinese Army Is The Largest In The World
In 2020, China had the largest active duty military force in the world (the Chinese People’s Liberation Army), with around 2.18 million active military personnel. However, China spends less on the military than the United States, which is the third largest military army in the world. In terms of strength, China ranks third in the world, behind the United States and Russia.
The world’s largest airport terminal is in China
In September 2019, the world’s largest airport was opened. Beijing Daxing Airport is located on the southern border of Beijing. It is intended to ease the traffic of another international airport, Beijing Capital International Airport, located in the northeast of the city.
The terminal area is about 700,000 square meters, which, according to estimates, will allow it to serve more than one hundred million passengers a year. The cost of building the Phoenix (or starfish) shaped airport for Zaha Hadid’s project was approximately $ 63 billion.
The Forbidden City is the largest palace complex in the world.
China’s Forbidden City reopens to the public | Multimedia | teleSUR
Speaking of Beijing, we cannot fail to mention one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world: the Forbidden City. It is located symmetrically on the north-south axis. In almost 730 square meters there are about 800 palaces and numerous pavilions.
The complex was built in the early 15th century for a Ming emperor. It was in the possession of the imperial family until the end of the Qing dynasty (1644-1912). Due to its importance, the Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987 by UNESCO as one of the first objects in China.
Hong Kong has the most skyscrapers
While Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the tallest skyscraper in the world, Hong Kong has twice as many skyscrapers as Dubai. Most of the 303 skyscrapers are residential buildings. The highest is the International Trade Center, which is 484 meters high and 118 floors. It makes the Shopping Center the eighth tallest building in the world. Hong Kong is a major commercial and financial center, as well as the most expensive city in terms of rental prices.
Fun Facts About China: The Longest Wall Is In China
Finally, we present one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Wall of China was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987. The wall was intended to defend Chinese states and empires from attacks by various nomadic tribes. Its construction began in the 7th century BC, while the most famous part of the great wall was added during the Ming dynasty (14th-17th centuries).
The Great Wall of China measures more than 20,000 km. It is equal to half the length of the equator of the globe. The longest section stretches almost 3,500 km, connecting the Bohai Gulf and the Yangguan Pass near Dunhuang City.
The above list shows the power of China. The country is also the world’s largest exporter. On our site, you can find articles about importing various products from China.