Mind Blowing Facts About The Republic Of China

1. The Peoples Republic of China is the world's second-largest country, as per land area (9.597 million km2). With a population of over 1.357 billion, China is the most populous country across the world. More than 30 million people in China still live in caves. Nearly 100 million people in China survive on less than US$1 per day.

2. China used to have five different time zones, before Communists took control in 1949. However, today the country follows one standard time, the Beijing time (UTC +8), which is 8 hours ahead of GMT. Sunrise in parts of western China ( Kashgar/Zhongquo), officially occurs as late as 10:17 a.m.

3. China is one of most ancient civilizations of the world. According to some historians, the history of china goes back to 6000 B.C. For thousands of years, China's followed hereditary monarchy system. The country was ruled by emperors from several dynasties. The People's Republic of China was established on 1 October 1949 with Zhou Enlai as premier and Beijing as the capital.

4. Paper was invented in China between the period of 206 BC and 220 AD. Paper was created by using finely chopped mulberry bark, other plant fibers, fishnets, hemp waste and old rags. Paper money was also invented in China, during the Tang Dynasty in 740 BC.

5. Tea was discovered in China by a Chinese Emperor Shen Nong during 2737 BC. It is widely believed that some tea leaves accidentally fell into a pot of boiling water and a brown colored liquid was formed. The emperor drank the brown beverage and found it very refreshing. Other interesting Chinese inventions include ice cream, mechanical clock, silk, compass, kites and gunpowder.

6. The Great Wall of China is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The wall stretches across 8,851.8 Km, from east to west China. The wall is known for its unique structure. It consists of series of walls and fortifications made of bricks, stones, rammed earth and wood. The wall once created to prevent military incursions has now become China's most famous tourist attraction.

7. New South China Mall located in Dongguan, China, is the world's largest mall as per gross leasable area. The mall is spread over an area of 6.46 million sq ft. However, the mall has been nicknamed as ghost mall, due to severe lack of occupants.

8. World's fastest train Shanghai Maglev runs between Beijing and Shanghai. The train has an average speed of 251 kmph and maximum operational speed of 431 kmph.