Ten fun facts about China

Fact 1
One-fifth of the world's population lives in China and it's approximated that thirty-four babies are born each minute.

Fact 2
More bird species live in China than any other place in the world. As of 2015 there are a total 1314 different species were two of them have been introduced by humans (the Crested bobwhite and the Java sparrow).

Fact 3
China is home to the Ginkgo, which is the oldest tree in the world and has been unchanged for more than 200 million years. The tree is seen as a living fossil (an organism that is similar to a species otherwise known only from fossils). The Ginkgo is widely used in traditional medicine and is said to improve the ability to concentrate as well as the memory.

Fact 4
Gunpowder was first discovered in China where it was used to create fireworks. The discovery of gunpowder is often seen as one of the world's four great inventions.

Fact 5
The paper was first invented in China around 105 AD and made its way to the western countries through the so-called Silk Road. The first paper was created used a plant called Mulberry together with fibers from old rags, fishnets and hemp waste.

Fact 6
Fingerprinting was used in China as early as 700 A.D. The fingerprints were used to sign legal documents. Records have shown that the Qin Dynasty also used fingerprints (together with hand- and footprints) as evidence on a crime scene.

Fact 7
The majority of the people in China drink polluted water. A rapidly growing population and lack of environmental oversight have increased both the demand and pollution of China´s water reserves.

Fact 8
Fortune cookies are contrary to popular belief, not a Chinese custom and is said to have been invented in San Fransisco during the early 1900s. In 1989, fortune cookies were even imported and sold in Hong Kong as "genuine American fortune cookies".

Fact 9
China has cultivated tea for over 2000 years and according to a popular legend, the tea was discovered by Emperor Shennong when a leaf from a nearby plant fell into the Emperor´s boiling water.

Fact 10
China’s official currency is called renminbi, meaning the people's currency. The yuan is the basic unit of the renminbi. The difference between the terms renminbi and yuan is similar to the difference between the British sterling and pound.