China has a rich history, unique traditions, and some rather unusual facts that might surprise you. Here are some weird and fascinating facts about China:
1. Ghost Cities facts about China
China is home to several “ghost cities”—large urban areas built to accommodate millions of residents but remain largely uninhabited. These cities, like Ordos in Inner Mongolia, were constructed as part of China’s rapid urbanization and real estate boom. Still, the expected population influx never materialized, leaving these cities eerily empty.
2. Green Cows and Fake Eggs
In some parts of China, counterfeit products extend to food items, including fake eggs and “green cows.” The fake eggs are made from chemicals, and the green cows refer to a scandal where plastic grass was fed to cows to make their milk appear richer. These incidents highlight the extreme lengths some have gone to in China’s counterfeit industry.
3. The Great Firewall
China’s internet is heavily censored and controlled by what is known as “The Great Firewall.” Many popular websites like Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter are blocked in China, and the government closely monitors online activity. The Chinese government has developed domestic equivalents like Baidu (for Google), WeChat (for WhatsApp), and Weibo (for Twitter).
4. World’s Largest Army of Civilian Spies
China reportedly has the world’s largest civilian surveillance network, with over 200 million CCTV cameras across the country. In addition to government surveillance, there’s a network of civilian spies who report suspicious activities to authorities. This network is part of China’s broader efforts to maintain control over its population and ensure national security.
5. Building Entire Cities in Just Months facts about China
China is known for its rapid construction capabilities. The country has built entire cities in just a few months. For instance, the city of Shenzhen, once a small fishing village, was transformed into a major metropolis in just a few decades, thanks to China’s economic reforms and construction boom.
6. Rent-a-White-Person Services
In China, there’s a peculiar industry where companies hire Westerners to pose as foreign executives or guests at business events, ribbon-cuttings, and even weddings. The presence of a foreigner, particularly a Caucasian, is seen as a status symbol and can give a company an image of international credibility.
7. The Airpocalypse
China is notorious for its severe air pollution, particularly in major cities like Beijing. The smog is so thick at times that it has led to what’s termed the “Airpocalypse.” During these periods, visibility drops significantly, and the air quality is so poor that it poses serious health risks, leading to widespread use of masks and air purifiers.
8. The Fortune Cookie Isn’t Chinese
Despite being a staple of Chinese-American cuisine, the fortune cookie actually has its origins in Japan and was popularized in the United States. Most people in China have never seen or eaten a fortune cookie, and they are not a part of traditional Chinese culture.
9. Rat Meat Sold as Mutton facts about China
In one of China’s more bizarre food scandals, rat meat was once sold as mutton in some markets. Authorities discovered that sellers had been processing and flavoring rat meat to resemble more expensive mutton, leading to public outrage and a crackdown on food safety violations.
10. The Fake Apple Store
China is known for producing knockoffs of almost anything, including entire retail stores. In 2011, an American blogger discovered a fake Apple store in Kunming that was so convincing even the employees thought they were working for Apple. The store was a complete replica, from the layout to the uniforms, but it wasn’t officially affiliated with the tech giant.
11. Social Credit System
China has implemented a social credit system, which rates citizens based on their behavior and trustworthiness. Activities like jaywalking, buying too many video games, or posting negative content online can lower a person’s score, leading to consequences such as travel bans or reduced access to certain services.
12. Eating Live Animals
In some regions of China, there are extreme food practices where animals like baby mice or small fish are eaten alive. While not widespread, these practices are part of certain local traditions and are often met with shock and criticism from the outside world.
These facts offer a glimpse into some of the unique and often strange aspects of life in China, reflecting the country’s vast diversity, rapid development, and complex cultural landscape.
13. World’s Largest Ball of Human Hair
In 2014, a bizarre world record was set in China for the largest ball of human hair. Hair salons across the country collected hair clippings, which were then rolled into a massive ball weighing over 167 kilograms (about 368 pounds). This unusual project was part of an effort to raise awareness about the importance of hygiene and recycling in the beauty industry.
14. Leftover Women
In China, the term “Sheng Nu” or “leftover women” refers to women who remain unmarried after the age of 27. This label is part of a cultural phenomenon where societal pressure pushes women to marry young. Women who focus on their careers and delay marriage often face stigmatization, despite their professional success. In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement challenging these outdated notions and advocating for women’s independence and choice.
15. Rent-a-Boyfriend Service
In some parts of China, especially during major holidays like the Lunar New Year, single women can face intense pressure from their families to get married. To avoid uncomfortable questions and societal scrutiny, a peculiar industry has emerged where women can rent a boyfriend for a day or a few days. These rented boyfriends accompany them to family gatherings, play the role of a caring partner, and help them navigate through the holidays without awkward interrogations about their single status.