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Discover the Magic of China: Top 8 Amazing Fun Facts About Beijing You Can't Miss!

illustration of beijing
Dive into the fascinating world of Beijing, where intriguing historical tales and peculiar modern quirks merge to form a treasure trove of delightful facts waiting to be explored!

1. Taijiquan World Record

In a stunningly coordinated display of Taijiquan that would make even the Karate Kid crane kick in envy: Beijing celebrated National Fitness Day on August 8th by having over 34,000 residents perform the martial art together, securing a Guinness world record for the largest-ever martial arts exercise while also hosting a grand photo exhibition showcasing more than 800 images from the 2008 Olympics and Paralympics.
Source => chinadaily.com.cn

2. Forbidden City's Mighty Walls

If these walls could talk, they'd probably say, "Hey, I'm a 7.9 meter high city wall with a 6 meter deep moat, so don't even try it": The Forbidden City amazes with its 980 buildings, over 8,000 rooms, and 720,000 square meters of traditional Chinese palatial architecture, all enclosed by towering walls and a wide moat. With an annual visitor count averaging 14 million people, it seems tourists can't resist the allure of this majestic defense fortress turned museum.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

3. Beijing's Massive Subway System

If you thought navigating the human body a la Magic School Bus was impressive, try getting around this sprawling city: Beijing is home to the world's largest subway system by track length, with a whopping 785.7 kilometers (488.2 miles) of tracks serving 370 stations, and as of 2020, it also records the highest annual ridership with 2,292.65 million trips.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

4. Earthquake-proof Bird's Nest

In the land where ancient dynasties met modern seismic boogie-woogies, Beijing's National Stadium struts its stuff as a feathery, earthquake-proof disco ball: Designed by the engineers at Arup to withstand major shocks, this iconic "Bird's Nest" lies in an active seismic zone and showcases impressive architectural innovation recognized worldwide.
Source => arup.com

Outsmarting Digital Censors

5. Outsmarting Digital Censors

If 1984 met a stand-up comedy club: Beijing boasts over two million "public opinion analysts" who slyly monitor and censor the digital realm, employing everything from keyword crackdowns to on-air confessions, yet the wily Chinese netizens have turned this Orwellian nightmare into a cacophony of puns, memes, and slang to outsmart the censors on platforms like Weibo.
Source => cfr.org

6. Shichahai's Bubbly Nightlife

If you're feeling a little "bar-ren" in Beijing, don't worry - there's a lake that's "tapped" into the city's bubbly nightlife: Shichahai Lake, which includes the lively Houhai Bar Street, has been quenching thirsts and serving up great views for over 700 years! Surrounded by traditional hutongs and courtyard homes, this local favorite is the perfect spot for visitors to immerse themselves in Chinese culture while enjoying a drink (or two) by the water.
Source => chinatravel.com

7. Exploring Panjiayuan Flea Market

If Indiana Jones and Sherlock Holmes had an antique-shopping baby, it would be the Panjiayuan Flea Market: A treasure trove of relics spanning half a million square feet, Beijing's bazaar boasts traditional Chinese furniture, obscure jades, and precious trinkets, all nestled between ancestral heirlooms and propaganda paraphernalia.
Source => travelchinaguide.com

8. Electric Vehicle Revolution

Beijing's electric boogaloo isn't a dance craze, it's a vehicular revolution: With 5.5 million electric vehicles on the road in 2017, the Chinese government encourages citizens to swap gas-guzzling conga lines for cleaner electric conga lines, although some worry about hitting the road for longer journeys due to the lack of charging hubs.
Source => iqair.com

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