China
is full of surprising stories, rich traditions and extraordinary
landscapes that many travellers never encounter. These insights
reveal a deeper and more intriguing side to the country before you
experience it yourself.
China spans five time zones but uses only one official national time.
Red is considered a lucky colour, symbolising happiness, celebration and prosperity.
The Great Wall isn’t one continuous wall but a network of fortifications built over centuries.
Fortune cookies are not Chinese — they originated in the United States.
Panda diplomacy has been a unique tool of Chinese international relations since the 1950s.
China invented paper, printing, gunpowder and the compass — four innovations that shaped global civilisation.
Traditional Chinese medicine has influenced wellness practices worldwide.
High-speed rail development in China is among the most advanced on Earth.
The Terracotta Army is one of the largest and most intricate archaeological discoveries in history.
Gift-giving is common, but gifts should be presented with both hands.
It is polite to decline a compliment initially before accepting it.
Tipping is not traditionally expected, though it is slowly becoming more common.
Queueing is generally respected in major cities, but can vary in busy public spaces.
Confucius is one of history’s most influential philosophers.
Jackie Chan is a global film icon known for martial arts and stunt work.
Yao Ming played a key role in bringing Chinese athletes to global basketball audiences.
Lang Lang is one of the world’s most celebrated classical pianists.
China contains some of the world’s most varied landscapes — deserts, rice terraces, karst mountains and subtropical forests.
The Yangtze River is Asia’s longest river and the world’s third longest.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park inspired the floating mountains in Avatar.
Guilin is known for its dramatic limestone peaks and poetic scenery.
Family is deeply valued in Chinese culture, often spanning several generations under one roof.
Tea drinking is a daily ritual and an important cultural tradition.
Mahjong is one of the most popular social games.
Festivals like Lunar New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival are central to cultural life.
Mandarin Chinese is the world’s most widely spoken first language.
Calligraphy and brush painting are considered high art.
Chinese cuisine varies dramatically by region, from Sichuan spice to Cantonese dim sum.
Traditional opera styles, such as Beijing Opera, remain culturally significant.
China is one of the world’s oldest continuous civilisations, dating back over 4,000 years.
The Silk Road connected China to Europe, shaping global trade.
The Forbidden City housed China’s emperors for nearly 500 years.
Many UNESCO World Heritage Sites reflect China’s deep historical layers.
The Great Wall stretches over 21,000 km across northern China.
The Rainbow Mountains of Zhangye are known for their colourful layered rock formations.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is famous for its misty peaks and ancient pine trees.
Jiuzhaigou Valley features multi-coloured lakes and waterfalls.
China spans five time zones but uses one standard time.
Home to one of the world’s oldest civilisations.
Invented paper, printing, gunpowder and the compass.
The Great Wall exceeds 21,000 km.
Panda diplomacy is a long-standing tradition.
Chinese New Year is the world’s largest annual human migration.
China has the world’s largest high-speed rail network.
The Yangtze River runs over 6,300 km.
Guilin is famous for its karst landscapes.
Zhangjiajie inspired the floating mountains in Avatar.
China has more than 50 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Mandarin is the most spoken first language globally.