There are some unique and interesting facts about China that would make you gaze and wonder if this is the same China that is often criticized for lack of innovation. Well, China does have its glorious past when magnificent inventions were made and honorably shared with the rest of the world.

These inventions are still beneficial to us. For example inventions like the compass, printing and gunpowder. Though there have been modifications, these inventions were first developed by the Chinese and transferred to other nations widely through the Silk Road trade. Below I have listed some common as well as lesser known intriguing facts about China.

Most of these facts are inventions, and others are just some common knowledge which we all ought to know, however, next time you enjoy the luxury of the finest toilet paper, remember it was first made in China and meant for only emperors and royals.

1. Compass

The compass we know of today was invented in China as early as the periods between 475 BC-221 BC.

2. Papermaking

The art of papermaking was first developed in China by an official named Cai Lun after a long term experiment using plant fibers, bark, rags and torn fishing nets.

3. Printing

The first movable type printing technique were first invented in China and first introduced to Korea and Japan and then westward to Persia and Egypt.

4. Silk-making

The ancient art was such a closely guarded secret that anyone who gave the secret out to outsiders were considered traitors and could face the death penalty.

5. Education

Fourth graders are expected to know 2,000 o f over 40,000 Chinese characters. Before leaving college they should know about 4,000 to 5,000 characters through memorization.

6. Size

China is the fourth largest country in the world and sometimes a day ahead of the United States.

7. Time

Did you know that the whole of China is in one time zone- +8 hours despite it size.

8. Great wall

Did you know that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object that could be seen with the human eye from outer space.

9. Gunpowder

Gunpowder was first invented by the Chinese for fire crackers which was also first invented by the Chinese.

10. Civilization

For the past 4,000 years China has been the oldest continuous civilization on earth.

11. Ice-cream

Did you know that ice cream was firs invented in China when the Chinese packed soft milk and rice mixture in snow.

12. Calendar

A complete cycle of the Chinese calendar take 60 years. It dates back 2600 BC and it the oldest known calendar in the world.

13. Bridges

Suspension bridges were first invented in China in 25 BC, 1800 years before such bridges were known in the west.

14. Nature

Chinese developed the three levels of heaven- Heaven, Earth and Man which has greatly influenced landscape painting and flower arrangement.

15. Mathematics

The calculation of pi was invented by Zu Chongzhi, a Chinese who calculated the value of pi which falls between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927 after 1,000 times.

16. Sanitary

The toilet paper was first invented in China in the late 1300 and was meant for emperors only. Now it is enjoyed by all and sundry.

17. Population

One in every five people in the world is Chinese.

18. Kites

Kites are the invention of the Chinese.

19. Martial art

It is widely practiced in China and was widely developed from ancient farming and hunting methods.

20. Color

Red is considered a lucky color in China.

The original blog is: http://blog.chinadaily.com.cn/blog-1825133-26570.html