Oh China, you dumpling-munching, communist-loving, iPhone-building superpower you. No matter how far we travel in Asia, China is like a big red magnet, pulling us back for more.
But while most travellers visit to check out the terracotta warriors and a pretty great wall, there are some weird and wonderful things in China that you would just never expect from a country that uses words like ‘Regime’.
Ready to get some China learnin’? Here we go.
1. A thriving hip-hop scene
Eminem, Wu Tang Clan… Chengdu? China’s hip hop scene, like most hip hop scenes I guess, flourishes underground. The ruling party ain’t big on the whole ‘sticking to the Man’ thing, but that hasn’t stopped local stars like Fat Shady and Melo from spitting out fire in their local Chengdu dialect. Respect.
2. Mass gay weddings
Okay, this is in Taipei more than China (but since Taiwan is still technically part of China, we’re counting it). The Taipei government has been hosting mass weddings since 1973, and in a big move for marriage equality in the region, this year gay couples can take part. Can you feel the love?
3. Classy as jazz bands
You’re in downtown Shanghai and the sounds of Bing Crosby-type jazz echo out from the Fairmont Peace Hotel. This is the Peace Jazz Band, formerly the oldest band in the world (these cool cats formed in the 1940s before disbanding for political reasons). And they still know how to groove.
4. Wine from an NBA star
Did you know former NBA basketball star Yao Ming (aka the tallest thing in the known world) is now killing it with his own Napa Valley wine label? 100% true. The growing Chinese middle class is lapping it up too, he’s even opened a little boutique tasting house in Shanghai.
5. Literally the greenest town in the world
Mother Nature can be pretty awesome sometimes, not least of which when she decides to reclaim her own. 50 clicks off the coast of Shanghai there’s an abandoned fishing village which has become literally the world’s greenest town (see what we did there, coz of all the greenery!). Weirdly beautiful, huh.
6. A superhero named after a pancake
This sounds like some elaborate gag, but there is an actual thing called Jian Bing Man. He even has his own movie in Chinese cinemas (released about a month ago). We’re not sure what Jian Bing Man’s powers are (apart from the power of deliciousness) but we will definitely be buying two tickets to find out.
7. Americatown. That is all.
If every city in the world has a Chinatown, it only makes sense that in China they have Americatowns, right? This Americatown is built on the outskirts of Beijing and is an exact replica of the town of Jackson Hole in Wyoming US of A. These houses are 100% real, people live there. In fact the value of the land here has tripled since being sold. Gotta love that American Dream.
8. Exams in a forest
Well played, China. You have officially made even sitting exams cool. At a highschool in Henan Province, Gao Er students (that’s like the final year students over here) were able to sit their final exams in about 3000 square meters of forest. Apparently this was to “better assist students dealing with stress”. What a country.
Ready to wake the sleeping dragon? Search our China gap year programs today. Whether you want to learn a language, intern, find a job or travel and explore the highlights, there are so many experiences available all year round.