China is one of the largest countries in Asia and the world and one of the most striking that we can find, despite being one of the most important economies on the planet and with greater international projection , it is also one of the most traditional and different societies to western culture that we can find. The curiosities of China We can find them from the social roles that men and women have fulfilled for centuries, to gastronomic tastes and some of the rarest customs that can happen to us.
If you are interested in such a rich and fascinating history, we encourage you to continue reading and to learn about some of its customs that still endure, such as the incredible fishing with cormorants and others that were luckily forgotten, such as the painful customs of the lotus feet of the women of Ancient China, which so many feet deformed until the twentieth century.
21 curiosities of China that maybe you did not know
1. The language of China
One of the curiosities of China the most striking is the language itself. He Chinese language is Chinese, although, in reality, there is not a single language, but rather a set of languages that combine dialects of Mandarin Chinese with other completely foreign languages such as Tibetan.
Among all the variants that exist, Mandarin Chinese in its Peking variant is the official language and the most used, although each region has its own language and way of speaking.
2. Traditions of China: the lotus feet
One of the traditions of China best known for its striking nature are the lotus feet or bandaged feet . This practice originated in the tenth century, and consisted of using bandages on girls' feet to prevent their growth. The bandages deformed the feet so that they were smaller than they really had to be and, consequently, women suffering from this bandage could not work, so it was associated with the China's wealthiest classes .
In the twentieth century this practice fell into decline and, currently, the only lotus feet that still exist are elderly women.
3. The women of Dongguan
The city of Dongguan is located in southern China and is famous for the population difference between men and women, which corresponds to 100 women for every 89 men . This has generated a great prostitution activity , to the point that Donnguan is known as "the city of sin" in China.
In addition, beyond the problems generated by the existing high prostitution, it is increasingly normal that men have three couples at the same time , which is becoming a habit in the Asian city, which produces both family and economic tensions.
4. Exotic foods from China: cat and dog on the menu
Some traditions of China What can most affect the Westerners are those related to exotic foods from China . However, beyond the rare foods, two of the meats that are consumed regularly in the Asian country are cat and dog. While it is true that in recent years this custom has been decreasing little by little, there are still many areas, especially in rural areas , where the cat and the dog are still considered a delicacy.
5. Women in China: "leftovers" at thirty years
China is a country with a strong paternalistic and macho tradition, and the role of women in China within society is very defined so that get married and take care of the house .
Although the authorities try to break with this archaic vision, still to this day, if a woman in China is not married before her thirtieth birthday, it is considered "superfluous", since traditionally the most desired females by single men are the most young boys. In this way, that a woman is single after thirty years is considered a dishonor or disgrace for her and her family . Learn more about the situation of these women: "The nightmare of Chinese women left over".
6. Curiosities of China in the WC: the paper is brought from home
Another of the curiosities of China most common is that public services do not have toilet paper . Except in places where there may be a traffic of international people, such as airports or hotels, the most normal thing is that the services do not have something as basic as the paper roll next to the toilet. So if you need to do your needs you must remember to take your own.
7. Addiction for games of all kinds
Another one of the traditions of China more deeply rooted in their population is their interest in the game, which sometimes becomes a true addiction. It does not matter if it's the Roulette, bingo or table games .
The Chinese love any game where they can win, or lose, money.
8. Play your life by crossing the street
One of the curiosities of China What else can attract the attention of Westerners is their way of driving. The most usual thing is that vehicles, whether motorized or bicycles , do not brake at crosswalks. In this way, crossing the street becomes a true sport of risk, which can only be successful waiting for the exact moment when there is no traffic.
However, this custom is not unique to China, since it is something widespread by many countries of Asia .
9. Chinese traditions at the table: serving the drink to others but not to oneself
Another of the most ingrained customs in China is that, at the table, when the drink is going to be served, a guest may serve his companion, but not himself.
In this way, the companion may reciprocate the kindness of the first to serve your drink previously.
10. The worst traffic jams in the world
One of the curiosities of China that we will not miss are their traffic problems , especially in the big cities of the coast. A good example of this is Beijing, the capital of the country, which has the record of having had one of the Worst jams ever lived . In particular, this jam lasted 12 days and stretched along 62 kilometers .
11. The religion of China: there are more Christians in China than in Italy
Although it does not look like it in China, there are more Christians living than in Italy. Even though the Catholic religion is not the first China -they are Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism-, if you compare, the number of Christians living in China exceeds that of Italy. About 5.1% of Chinese are Christians versus 80% of Italians. However, of the total population, some 68 million profess the Christian faith, while in Italy there are around 61 million people.
12. China's army is the largest on the planet
China not only stands out as the country with the most population in the world. It also has the largest permanent army on the planet . In fact, only land units are made up of 1.6 million active soldiers. In addition, it also has the second largest global defense budget. Without a doubt, this is one of the curiosities of China more surprising
13. Many toothpicks are used
China is at the head of countries that most use chopsticks to eat. In fact, about 80 billion disposable toothpicks are used in the Asian power each year. This means that you have to cut around 20 million trees to get this amount of chopsticks.
Without a doubt, it is another of the curiosities of China determined especially by the large population of the country.
14. The first chopsticks created were not for eating
Originally the chopsticks, which were developed in China about 5000 years ago, were used for cooking and not for eating.
15. It is the largest exporter and importer in the world
If China is one of the great world powers it is for something. China is the largest exporter of products to the whole world. In fact, in a single quarter gets a profit of 1.07 billion dollars. That's not all, it's also the country that imports the most from around the world. Thus, it exceeds, for example, in importing oil to the United States. Unexpected, right?
16. Many people live in caves
Although it is one of the developed countries, many people have established their residence in caves. Currently, more than 30 million people in China they live in caves . They are generally located in the arid area of Loess and the peasants who cultivate the land live there. Of course, today they have electricity and drinking water. That people live in caves in this area is because it is easier to excavate them than to build a house, since they lack the tools to create these infrastructures.
17. Wang is the most common surname in China
Although Li used to be the most repeated surname among the inhabitants of China, this changed in 2007. From then on, he headed the list of the most common surnames: "Wang".
The five most common surnames of China are currently:
- Wang
- Li
- Chang
- Liu
- Ch'en
18. They did not have "McAuto" until 2005
Although in Europe and America it is something very normal, it was not until 2005 that a McDonald's fast food restaurant was opened that served directly to the drivers of cars from a window. This service is known in Spain as McAuto.
Of course, in 2008, only three years later, there were already 115 of them distributed throughout the country.
19. They use birds to fish
In the province of Yunnan there is a tradition of training cormorants to help fishermen in their tasks.
The fishermen tie a string around the neck of the cormorant so that only small fish can swallow. Thus, when the cormorant has caught a large prey, it returns to the fisherman, who takes out of his mouth or throat the fish of considerable size, keeps it and allows the cormorant to continue fishing.
20. They have a stone forest
In the same province of Yunnan you can find the place known as "the stone forest" of China or "Shillin" (pronounced Shílín ). It is a group of very tall limestone rocks that resemble a forest. UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site.
As you have seen, China is a country that stands out for having some of the customs and traditions more different than we can find in many of the countries of the West. In addition, we must also bear in mind that it is about a country of contrasts , where urban life is completely different from what can be found in the countryside or in the interior regions.
21. The red color very present in weddings
Red has a great presence in China's bonding ceremonies. In its culture this color represents success, loyalty, honor, prosperity and love. So traditionally everything was decorated in red and, in fact, the dress of the bride was also of this color.
It is a fascinating country, which has always aroused the interest of visitors from other regions and will continue to do so, even if the years go by, because China is one of the places where more curiosities that attract attention will be found.