Things You Can Only Find In China
By Sarah Smith
1 year ago
An upside-down house
Source: Wordpress
If you're ever in Shanghai and fancy a slightly surreal experience, then head on over to Fengjing Ancient Town, where you can literally turn the world on its head. Not only is the house itself the wrong way up, all the furnishings are on the ceiling... or is it still the floor... We can think of worse things to do with $5.
The Dragon Escalator
Source: atlasobscura.com
This incredible feat of engineering is the biggest outdoor escalator in the world and takes visitors to Longqing Gorge up view China's largest dam. Rising 258m, it scales the cliff one way, but you need to brave the stairs or pay for an extra toboggan ride to get back down, just FYI.
Red Beach
Source: MyBestPlace
About 20 miles SW of Panjin Shi, you'll find one of the most fascinating beaches in the world. Thanks to the alkaline-saline soil, autochthonous alga thrives here, which although bright green for spring and summer, turns a vibrant red during Autumn. This red carpet spreads all the way to the sea front.
Kissing Dinosaurs
Source: Amusing Planet
We're all used to some kind of checkpoint, maybe a bridge or a few flags, to mark the border between countries. Less common is an enormous statue of two "kissing" apatosauruses. It's got to be hard to entice tourists to remote towns, in this case Erenhot on the border of China and Mongolia, but that should do the trick!
Avatar's Hallelujah Mountain
Source: picturecorrect.com
Ok, so obviously this is not the legendary mountain scape from
Avatar, however, the "floating" craggy pillars in Zhangjiajie were in fact the inspiration for James Cameron's epic. Such is their new-found fame that this particular pillar has recently had it's name changed from “South Pillar of Heaven” to “Hallelujah Mountain."Air in a can
Source: CNN
Such is the smog in some parts of China, you can actually buy a canister of Canadian air to save your lungs a bit. It's not cheap though - $14-$20 depending on where you go. It's really popular too, with the first shipment selling out within a fortnight.
The Bailong Elevator
Source: Wiki
It's not just crazy dragon escalators. You'll also find the world's largest outdoor elevator in China. Found in the Wulingyuan area of Zhangjiajie, it can take visitors up the 300m cliff face. You don't have to worry about walking down with this one, it goes both ways.
Weird Walmart stock
Stock: Pinterest
Walmart is pretty predictable over here, right? Clothes, arts and crafts, home furnishings, you know the deal. Don't be too surprised however, if you walk into one in China and are confronted by a whole shark, crocodile or even live turtles and frogs. The frogs will be in a tank but don't worry, the shark is on ice.
Forget to pick up your crab for dinner? Don't worry...
Source: Caixin Global
It's not just Walmart which has weird options. Vending machines may cause you to stop and stare too... Live (yes live) crabs sell like hot cakes in subways across Chinese cities. The machines are kept between 5-10 degrees to keep the crabs in a dormant state. Still, not sure Animal Welfare would approve though.
England (well, a small sample of it)
Source: Being Visitor
If you're a Brit travelling in China and feel bit homesick, head on over to the Songjiang District, about 40mins outside Shanghai. There you'll find Thames Town, complete with imported UK lamp posts, the legendary red phone booths and Edwardian style town houses.
Beijing’s Watermelon Museum
Source: atlasobscura.com
You wouldn't be in doubt as to China's summer fruit of choice if you were wandering along the southern edge of Beijing. This very unique museum is entirely dedicated to the watermelon, if you're into that sort of thing. Nothing like an enormous watermelon to cool your mind on a hot, smoggy day.
"Paris"
Source: Agricultural Digest
Only a seasoned Parisian would be able to tell which Eiffel Tower was real one we expect (it's the one on the right if you were wondering.) Not content with replicating the UK, the city of Tianducheng is a stunning mini-copy of the city of love, complete with a 354ft
tour Eiffel. Bon Voyage!Ping Pong Paddle Hotel
Source: Business Insider
Located in the city of Huainan and part of a $45.8 million sports complex, is the world's first pingpong paddle shaped hotel. There will also be a stadium in the shape of a Football, and smaller sports facilities buildings shaped like a basketball, a volleyball and a soccer ball.
Guard Geese
Source: China Daily
No one would question the NYPD calling in a dog handler to help keep the peace or guard property, right? As intimidating as they can be en mass, we've never considered the possibility of using geese before. In the rural areas of Xinjiang however, they do just that. Local cops even describe them as better than their canine counterparts!
The Terracotta Army
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
Discovered by a, no doubt very surprised, group of labourers in 1974, what they first thought were fragments of clay figures turned out to be a discovery of staggering archaeological significance. Further excavation uncovered a life size army of men and horses, 8,000 of which have been found - so far! Buried to guard the tomb of the self-proclaimed first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huangdi, they had been dutifully doing so for 2,000 years when they were discovered.
A huge bottle of white spirit
Source: Trip.com
There's nothing worse than having a meeting at a new company and having no idea where you're going. We expect you wouldn't have that problem if you were trying to locate the Wuliangye Yibin company headquarters. Holding the Guinness World Record as the tallest bottle shaped building, it's 75m tall and can be found in Yibin.
Odd brand tweaks
Source: Twitter
Chances are if you're touring this amazing country, you may find yourself doing a number of double takes. Yes, that sign does say
Pizza Huh and no, you're not losing your marbles, that one does say KFG. The branding of these, and others, is often so strikingly similar to our western equivalents, it's enough to confuse anyone, especially when hungry.Central Perk
Source: Teacup Chinese
Yes, we know there are a few FRIENDS cafe replicas dotted around the globe, but none really hold a candle to the one in Beijing. The accuracy is incredible, plus you can watch reruns of the show and select food from a menu inspired by the crazy goings on of the famous six.
The USS Enterprise
Source: Time
Now this is impressive, and it should be, given it cost $97 million. Game developer NetDragon Websoft went big for their Chinese headquarters, after seeking special permission from CBS to build it. There are Trekkies and then there are these guys. Live long and prosper, dudes (you'll need to to pay back your contractors.)
People nap just about anywhere
Source: Amusing Planet
Did you know it's illegal to fall asleep in a British Pub? Not so in China, where napping is seen as serious business. People will do it just about anywhere, which is probably safer to do in a place where it's more socially acceptable. Not sure how refreshed you'd be waking up on some park equipment mind...
A throw back to the days of Communist living
Source: Atlas Obscura
Not everyone seems to be content living in a post-1949 world. If you feel the urge to live in a Communist style village, Huaxi is the place for you. You need to be pretty well-off to qualify ($100,000 in the bank should do it), but you will be given a house, car and stock in the village itself. You will however be required to work 7 day weeks in one of the village factories and if you leave, you lose your benefits. Worth it? We're not really convinced.
Let's hope it's not on vibrate
Source: Daily Mail
We all know China is a big player on the tech scene, so if they can build ping pong and bottle shaped buildings, maybe a mobile phone shouldn't come as that much of a surprise. Found in Kunming, this 11-story building has been branded as China's ugliest building by the online community. Sure, it's not that pretty, but top marks for originality.
The Lotus Building
Source: Arch Daily
From the slightly ridiculous to the utterly sublime. The Lotus Building was designed by Studio 505 (an Aussie architecture firm) and positioned in the middle of a man-made lake in Wujin and is the home of their city's planning bureau. The inside may be mainly functional, filled with meeting rooms, exhibition halls and conference centres, the the outside sure is a thing of beauty.
Dinosaur Fairyland
Source: Lazer Horse
Fan of Jurassic Park? You'd have to really be into these beasts to make the trek out here to see them. Welcome to the world's most remote theme park, which has unfortunately severely limited its success. It's a shame, as some of the life-size replicas consist of real bones and it really is rather magical.
Is it art? Or a toilet?
Source: Alamy
Don't get us wrong, we're all big fans of modern art and recycling, we'd just never thought to mix those concepts in with toilets before. A visit to Shiwan Park, Foshan, will undoubtedly stick in the memory, as the waterfall there stands 5m tall and uses 10,000 recycled sinks, toilets, and urinals. The locals took some persuading to make it a permanent installation, but it does have a kind of weird beauty, unless you've had too much to drink we'd guess.
The Danxia Landforms Rainbow
Source: Huffpost
Millions and millions of years and layers and layers of sandstone make up this breath taking land formation, which stands proudly in the Zhangye Danxia Landform Geological Park. It was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 and it's not hard to see why. Gorgeous.
Why travel the world when the world can come to you?
Source: The Theme Park Guy
If dinosaurs aren't your thing but you appreciated the fake UK and Paris, maybe the Window of the World theme park is the one for you. Here you'll find replicas of The Tower of London, Sydney Opera House, Statute of Liberty, Angkor Was, Mt Rushmore and many more. An easy way to reduce your carbon footprint - imagine the air miles between the real things!
Big enough for all the Tea in China?
Source: China Daily
Paying homage to Yixing city's famous purple clay arts (mainly
zisha teapots), this building in Wuxi was designed and built as part of a cultural exhibition. It's become so popular that the locals hope it'll become a permanent feature. Staring 39m high and 50m wide, it sure could hold a lot of tea.Rubber Duckie, you're the one
Source: Traveller.com
Ok so this one isn't strictly just found in China, as this conceptual art has travelled the world (but it was only available to view there for a time!) The creation of conceptual artist Florentijn Hofman, these giant yellow beauties lived for a time beneath the luxury 27-story Doughnut Hotel on the Taihu Lake. Nothing screams luxury more than a 32m high rubber duck, ey?
Hallstatt II
Source: NBC news
What better way to preserve a World UNESCO heritage site than to build two of it, right? Even if it does cost you $940,000,000. If you're in China but would rather be in the Austrian Alpine village of Hallstatt, you're in luck, as there's one in the province of Guangdong.
You'll Wanna Snap Up This Walmart Offer
image source: imgur.com
You may have already heard of alligator and crocodile meat being sold just as easily as bacon or beef, but you might not have thought they come packaged... er, well - like this. Browsing a Chinese Walmart, you're sure to find an entire gator out on display for purchase.
Live Frogs - Prince, Optional
image source: imgur.com
Just like you can pick out your preferred lobster from a tank at a high-end seafood restaurant, why not pick out your own frog for... well, we suppose you don't have to eat them. We don't really know why these are being sold, but after you've bought them, you can do whatever you want with them!
The Great Wall Of China, Of Course!
image source: reddit.com
This one goes without saying, but it's probably the biggest (quite literally) thing you can only find in China. And it's certainly one for the bucket list! Interestingly, as this picture shows, the great 'wall' is not fully a wall at all points of the walk, as at some points the bricks have crumbled away.
Authentic Soup Dumplings
image source: reddit.com
Known as xiaolongbao, these soup dumplings are available to be replicated (or cooked at home) all over the world, but there's only one place you are going to get authentic chinese soup dumplings - in China! There are some pretty famous restaurants in China known for delicious helpings of these.
Let It Go At The Harbin Snow And Ice Festival
image source: nbcnews.com
Harbin is a city in China that's famous for a huge festival in particular: the snow and ice festival! The place actually remains standing all winter until the ice actually melts away. You can walk across a frozen lake and take in all the amazing colorful sculptures at night!
Water Parks That Push The Boundaries Of Space
image source: reddit.com
Okay, so busy water parks are nothing new and certainly not exclusive to China: but Chinese water parks in particular are some of the busiest in the world because of the amount of people they let in. You won't be making so much of a splash, as a dash - to the exit.
You'll Have The High Ground On The Tianmen Skywalk
image source: reddit.com
The Tianmen Skywalk is something you'd expect on a high level of a rally game so you can laugh at how bad you are at taking those sharp turns. At around 5,000 feet high, it's also known as the 'coiling dragon cliff' because of the way the path snakes around - so good luck if you want to try this one!
Take Your Duck For A Walk
image source: reddit.com
Technically you can put a leash on whatever you want to, really, but you're going to feel weird about it if it's not a dog - or, at most, a cat. But yep, you can actually attach a leash to ducks in China and take them for a walk... if you're so inclined to do that, for whatever reason.
Be Closer To God... And The Edge Of A Cliff
image source: reddit.com
In China there is a famous (and dangerous) hanging temple, that has been built and suspended on the side of a cliff! While temples are supposed to be places to feel safe, relax and meditate, surely this particular location of choice has the opposite effect?
The Green Ghost Village
image source: reddit.com
No, we don't mean a ghost wandering around in a sheet with an emerald hue - we mean a whole village that's eeriely been abandoned and now had nature take over it. This stunning and spooky tourist attraction used to have over 2,000 fishermen living in it.
Tai Chi In Public Parks
image source: medium.com
It's nothing new to see someone doing exercise in a public park, like a spot of yoga or jogging. But in China, you can expect loads of people to be performing the ancient art of Tai Chi in public parks and spaces. It won't just be the odd couple, either, it'll be whole groups of people!
Have No Choice But To Play With An Adorable Panda
image source: reddit.com
China is known for its population of giant pandas, as there are many centers across the country that care for this endangered species. That means a trip to China can only result in you visiting one of these centers - and being encouraged to actually play with one if the center allows it! Because why wouldn't you?
One Of The Most Colorful Places On The Planet
image source: nbcnews.com
If the top of your bucket list reads "go to a place that looks like a massive plate of Ratatouille", then you've hit the jackpot. Lexiaguo in China is one of the most visually stunning places in the world based on the rolling colored landscape - all natural! All amazing!
Lots And Lots Of Martial Arts
image source: reddit.com
China is very, very big on its martial arts, and it's the only place you're going to find authentic Chinese martial art centers across the country. You might have only heard of a few martial arts names, but the amount available in China could fill a book - karate doesn't even begin to cover it!
Hold The Phone - It's The 798 Art Zone!
image source: thetravellingcolognian.com
The amazing 798 art zone in China, also known as the Dashanzi Art District, is an old military factory that has been updated - and rightly so - to an art hub in the district. It's basically the perfect creative space you can go if you're a wannabe Chinese artist!
A Quick Teabucks, Anyone?
image source: gotgravy.com
Teabucks is exactly what it sounds like - a rip off of Starbucks. Because tea is a huge deal in China, not like coffee across the US, they've put their own spin on the huge chain brand. But this one might not be as popular with tourists looking for that hot cup o' Joe.
The Stone Forest
image source: wikipedia.com
Sounds like something out of Lord of the Rings, doesn't it? If Middle Earth was China, that is. The Stone Forest is an area of land made up of huge limestone constructions all packed together, as close as trees in a forest. Some of the rocks here even look like trees turned to stone!
Keyrings With Live Animals In Them
image source: 38degrees.com
In some weird twist on a Tamagotchi that we definitely all had at some point, China actually do sell keyrings with live animals in them. This might be things like fish, salamanders and frogs. And they're not destined to survive, either (understandly... they're trapped in a keyring!). Cruel, to say the least.
Panda Poop Tea!
image source: teapartygirl.com
So we know that China is big on pandas.. and teas... so this one sort of makes sense, right? I mean, they could have just released a panda-themed teapot at one of their Teabucks stores, but no, they had to go the extra mile and bring in panda poop. Unless this is recycling at its best?
'Crust' Toothpaste
image source: reddit.com
So most of us will already use the Crest brand toothpaste, so you might be wondering why this sounds so familiar. Well... 'Crust' is the Chinese version, as appealing as it sounds. As far as we know, it's a normal minty toothpaste you can use on your teeth as normal.. and no, it doesn't have panda poop in it.
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