75 interesting facts about China (2) Bashny.Net

40. According to Chinese legend, is the inventor of silk Lady Xi Lin Sui (Lady Xi Ling Sui), the wife of Emperor Huang (Huang Di). The idea of ​​creating silk was born at teatime, when a silkworm cocoon fell into the cup with the Empress and the water formed in the thin filaments.
41. The oldest piece of paper found in China dates back to the second or first century BC The paper was so strong that it could be used as a dress or a light vest.
42. The Chinese were the first to use the stirrups. This event occurred in the third century BC
43. The "one child" in China has led to female infanticide, which led to a significant imbalance in the sexes. Today, girls in China, 32 million less than the boys. In the future, tens of millions of men unable to find a wife. Some scientists suggest that this inequality can carry a threat to world security.
44. The discovered materials scientists say that in China between 300,000 - 500,000 years ago, lived the first known appearance of Homo erectus. We also know that "Beijing" people knew how to use fire.
45. In the first half of the twentieth century, Shanghai was the only port receiving fugitive Jews without an entry visa, fleeing the Holocaust.
46. ​​Chinese mathematics evolved independently of Greek mathematics than is attracting great interest of scientists.
47. Chinese lanterns were invented in 250 BC For the Chinese, they are an important symbol of long life and prosperity. For wealthy families prepared as volumetric lights that their uplift produced by several people.
48. In the Tang Dynasty it was assumed that people with education had to greet and say goodbye only in verse and poetic form.
49. In 1974 while digging a well a group of Chinese farmers of Shaanxi Province (Shaanxi) found fragments of very ancient pottery, as well as the tomb of Emperor Qin (Qin) (259-210 BC), the first ruler who united China. The tomb, in addition to the relics of the Emperor, was in 1000 the army of warriors, chariots and an end.
50. Chinese Grand Canal (China's Grand Canal) - the oldest and longest canal in the world. Its length is 1795 km. Along the walls of the castle he built 24, and the banks are connected more than 60 bridges.
51. In China, a bat - a traditional symbol of good luck. The image of the animal can often be found on textiles, porcelain.
52. The last emperor of the Qing (Pu) loved cycling and often made trips to the Forbidden City in Beijing. In 1981, China entered the massive use of bicycles. The idea belonged to two American travelers Allen (Allen) and Zahtbelenu (Sachtleben). For contemporary Chinese bicycle is the main means of transport. The country has long been a leading global manufacturer of bicycles.
53. In the period from 1898 to 1901 in North China there was a revolt against Christian missionaries, foreign diplomats and technology, was initiated by a secret society of "righteousness and harmonious fists» (Yihequan or I-ho-ch'uan), so named because, that its members practiced unarmed martial arts and secret rituals. In westerns, this group is called "Shadow", and its members - "Boxers».
54. In '25 BC in China invented suspension bridges. In the West, similar structures started to use 1800 years later.
55. First American woman to win the Nobel Prize, was the Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973). Actions her novels took place in China. The most popular product received "good earth» (Good Earth), published in 1931. Today, the best-selling Chinese-American author Amy Tan is (Amy Tan), whose books are the most "running" in "The Joy Luck Club» («The Joy Luck Club»).
56. In China, it is believed that calligraphy reveals the morality and spirituality of the calligrapher, the process of writing characters is a process of self-improvement.
57. Carp - a symbol of strength and perseverance in China. Dimensions and mustache fish make it looks like a dragon, the greatest happiness of the Chinese mascot. Fish play an important role in Chinese culture, and even the words "abundance" and "fish" are pronounced the same - «yu».
58. In some parts of China braiding considered not just styling. Young girls always wore two pigtails, and married - one. Perhaps this is the Chinese tradition has contributed to the Western view that the two braided pigtails just little girls.
59. In ancient China believed that the mirror protects the house from the evil spirit of man makes the hidden visible, and special rituals may reveal the secrets of the future. Mirrors are often installed on the ceilings of the burial chambers.
60. The longest river in China - Yangtze River (Changjian), a length of 5623 km and the Yellow River (Huanghe) - 4672 km.
61. The Chinese have developed a theory of "three levels of heaven": the sky, the earth, man. This theory is carefully traced in painting. In particular, the paintings depicting landscapes and floral arrangements.
62. It is believed that the horse is likely to have originated in Central Asia and the animals have become very important for China. The Chinese refer to the male horses Energy yang, horses classify the elements of fire. To convince the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom, people born in the Year of the Horse - smart, talkative, independent, fun, they know how to handle money.
63. In China, a cicada (green grasshopper) is considered a symbol of rebirth, because the insect is a kind longevity (living up to 17 years), periodically sheds its skin. In ancient China, was inserted into the mouth dead cicada, because they believed that it slows down the process of decay of the body and speeds up the revival of "other" world.
64. Polygamy was practiced in China for the history of the state. First of all, harems wound up rich people who had the means to maintain them. Harems Chinese emperors has hundreds of concubines.
65. The most revered bird in China - the phoenix. According to Chinese legend, it is a female imperial power. Pie in the eyes of the Chinese symbol of long life, is the second largest bird of China. Ducks are considered a symbol of happiness and fidelity.
66. The Great Cultural Revolution (the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution) period of 1966 - 1976 led to the deaths of thousands of Chinese, famine and the destruction of thousands of hectares of farmland.
67. Western dragon is considered to be an evil creature in China this animal takes pride of first place among the four great creatures of the world, described in mythology (the other three - the tiger, phoenix and turtle).
68. The highest mountain in the world (8847, 7 m) named after Englishman Sir George Everest, the chief surveyor of India. The Chinese call Mount Everest Chomolungma, which means "Goddess Mother of the Earth».
69. The national flag of China was approved in September 1949, the day of the People's Republic. The red color of the flag symbolizes revolution, the big star - communism, and little stars - the Chinese people. The position of stars is not accidental - it shows equality of the Chinese people under the leadership of the Communist Party.
70. Chinese lunar calendar - the oldest in the world. It consists of 12 signs of the zodiac, was created in 2006 BC. One cycle takes 60 calendar years.
71. Every year the number of children born with various defects, continues to grow steadily. Environmentalists and officials blame in the ongoing severe pollution of certain areas of the country.
72. documented that the Chinese began to use mushrooms in food for at least 3,000 years ago. In 1996, the country produced 600,000 tons of mushrooms, most of the production was exported. China has grown to 60% of the global range of fungi.
73. In 2007, China had suspended the production of dog food and toothpaste certain companies, as the products contain toxic ingredients. During the investigation it was found that one of the officers had taken bribes from pharmaceutical companies. The offender was sentenced to death.
74. The most well-known Chinese and Chinese-American actor Jackie Chan (Hong Kong), Chow Yun Fat (Hong Kong), Bruce Lee (San Francisco), Jet Li (Beijing), Zhang Ziyi (Beijing) and Lucy Liu (New York).
75. The Olympic Games of 2008, taking place in Beijing, recognized as the most expensive in the history of the competition. Their organization and holding spent $ 40 billion. In comparison, for the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004 there were only 15 billion dollars.