Interesting Facts

  • In 2006, China planted a whopping 5.3 million hectares of trees to improve the environment in time for the 2008 Olympics.

  • All factories have been moved away from Beijing before the Olympics starts as an attempt to improve the environment for the people of Beijing.

  • The average temperature in August is 25.5 degrees centigrade.

  • As a result of a massive construction programme in recent years, all building work will be put on hold at the end of 2007 to eliminate the construction dust often mistaken for pollution.

  • The Chinese government is spending an estimated £20 billion on a massive makeover for the city of Beijing, including brand new motorways, an underground railway extension as well as a new international airport terminal.

  • The new National Stadium has been dubbed the ‘Bird’s Nest’ thanks to the 43,000 tonnes of twisted steel hanging free over the massive arena.

  • The Beijing 2008 Olympics motto is ‘One World, One Dream’, which symbolises the integration of Western and Eastern cultures.

  • Hainan is a new popular resort island, dubbed ‘Hawaii of the East’, and hosted the 2003 Miss World Contest.

  • The Great Wall of China, one of the earliest made-made structures in the world, runs for a staggering 6,600 kilometres.

  • The Chinese government is embarking on a mega project to completely modernise its rail system, with an eye-watering investment cost of £100 billion.

  • Some of the widely used inventions by the Chinese include gunpowder, printing, paper and the compass.