Interesting Facts:
China for Kids and Adults

There are lots of interesting facts about China. Here are some you might find fascinating.

China for Kids Facts:

-- Ice cream was invented in China around 2000 BC when the Chinese packed a soft milk and rice mixture in the snow.

-- Besides the mainland, China has over 5400 islands scattered in the seas off its coast.

-- China is huge; while its climate in the north is very cold, its south is humid and boiling.

-- China straddles five time zones. Unlike in the United States where time is used according to its time zone, China has adopted a single standard time to make schedules and communication easier.

-- There are about 300 languages still in use in China today. The single standard language is called Mandarin.

-- China has the highest point and the 2nd lowest point in the world. Mount Everest is called Mount Qomolangma in China as shown at right. It is the highest mountain in the world with an altitude of 29,035 feet, about 8850 meters. Turpan Pendi in the northwest of China is at 508 feet below sea level. It's the 2nd lowest point in the world with only the Dead Sea being lower than it. Of course, the Turpan Pendi is the lowest point in China itself.

-- Chinese idioms often have four characters, such as "Suspect the Neighbor of Stealing an Axe", "The Blind Men Touch an Elephant" and "Three Men Make A Tiger".