Starter level quiz on the traditions, geography, history and language of China (1).
1. Canton is the old name for which city?
Hong Kong
Guangzhou
Haikou
The name was given by early European traders who rendered Guangdong (the name of the province) as Canton. Guangzhou is the name of the city. The character 州 'zhou' means administrative center or prefecture and is part of many Chinese city names.
2. The largest hydro-electric dam in the world is located on which river?
Pearl
Yangzi
Mekong
The Sanxia ('Three Gorges') dam is located in Hubei province on the Yangzi. It was completed in 2006 and created a reservoir 400 miles [644 kms] long. It is not the largest dam in the world though - that title is currently held by the Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe.
3. What is considered the luckiest number in China?
7
8
12
Eight is the luckiest number and you often see it associated with gambling web sites having 888 as part of their name. The Beijing Olympics was opened on the 8/8/2008 at 8p.m.
4. Whose mumified body can be seen at the south side of Tiananmen Square?
Emperor Taizong
Mao Zedong
Sun Yatsen
Mao Zedong's mummified body is located on the south side of Tian'anmen Square. On the west side is the ‘Great Hall of the People’ where the NPC meet, and there are museums to the east. It is a vast open space of 109 acres [44 hectares] and has seen rallies of a million people
5. The United States of America is called what in Chinese?
中国zhōng guó
华国huá guó
美国měi guó
美měi means beautiful on its own, so with 国guó it means beautiful country. It was chosen as a rough transliteration of America.
Deng Xiaoping during Sino-American signing ceremony, 1st Jan 1979.
Image available under a Creative Commons license ➚.
6. Which Chinese city generates more money from gambling than Las Vegas?
Macau
Hong Kong
Beijing
The Chinese are famous for their love of gambling and the former Portuguese outpost at Macau remains the capital city of gambling, although Hainan Island is starting to catch up.
7. Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) usually takes place in which month(s)?
December or January
January or February
February or March
The Spring Festival starts on the second New Moon after the Winter solstice, the date falls between January 20th to February 21st depending on the position of the moon each year and lasts for two weeks.
Red lanterns are hung from the trees during the Chinese New Year celebrations in Ditan Park (Temple of Earth) in Beijing. Image by Paul Louis ➚ available under a Creative Commons License ➚
8. The Yangzi River is one of the longest rivers in the world, where does it stand in the world rankings for length?
3rd
1st
5th
The Yangzi river is the 3rd longest river in the world (3,917 miles) after the Nile (4,130 miles) and Amazon ( 3,976 miles) rivers.
Barge on the Yangzi river near the Three Gorges dam
9. The Bund is a famous waterfront feature in which city?
Guangzhou
Tianjin
Shanghai
The world famous Bund (外滩 Wài tān in Chinese) along the waterfront was established in the 1920s in Shanghai's great international era as a trading port. The name 'Bund' comes from the Persian 'band' for embankment and is widely used in India, Japan and China.
10. Qingdao, famous for Tsingtao beer, was under which country's control at the end of the 19th century?
Britain
Germany
Belgium
Qingdao means 'blue-green island' and it remained a small fishing village for many centuries. The Germans took control in 1898 as a treaty port and held it until 1914. it is a popular beach resort on the Shandong peninsular.
11. The Art of War was written by which ancient author?
Wei Liao
Sun Wu (Tzu)
Kongfuzi (Confucius)
The Art of War 孙子兵法 was written about 2,500 years ago by Sun Wu (Sun Tzu). It was the standard text on military strategy for over two thousand years.
Clay model of Mongol warrior
12. Which of these animals is NOT associated with China's astrological cycle of years?
Sheep
Rooster
Crab
The astrological cycle of years is rat; ox; tiger; rabbit; dragon; snake; horse; sheep; monkey; rooster; dog and pig
"Ways of souls" tombs of the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 to 1644CE). 50km north west of Beijing, in Changping. December 2005. Image by ofol available under a Creative Commons License ➚.
13. Laozi is considered the founder of which tradition?
Daoism (or Taoism)
Shintoism
Buddhism
Lao Zi is considered the founder of Daoism. Unlike Confucius details of his life are very sketchy; often based on myths and legends. His name just means 'Old (or Venerable) Master'. Lao Zi probably lived in the sixth or possibly the fourth century BCE.
14. The Chinese character for heaven or sky is what?
同tóng
广guǎng
天tiān
The horizontal stroke on top represents the sky which is above the figure of a large man 大dà.
Nine is Jiǔ 九 and it is a strong yang number as it is 3 times 3 and 3 is a yang (odd) number. The emperor is associated with nine and there are numerous usages of nines in the Forbidden City including the 'Nine Dragon Wall'.
16. Wanglang Nature Reserve is home to which famous Chinese creature?
Giant Panda
Reticulated Python
Pangolin
The Giant Panda lives in mountainous regions of Sichuan; Shanxi and Shaanxi provinces. A captive breeding program has started to increase numbers of this critically endangered animal.
再见 zài jiàn for goodbye is literally 'again see' so it is just like the French 'au revoir'.
18. The Forbidden City in Beijing was built during which dynasty?
Tang
Ming
Song
The Ming dynasty capital was initially at Nanjing but Emperor Yongle moved the capital back to Beijing and built the Forbidden City on the ruins of the former Mongol capital (then called Dadu) .
The Imperial Dragon Throne is located in central position in the Forbidden City, Beijing. Dragons are associated with the Emperor as they are powerful and wise.
20. What is the capital city of Fujian province?
Qingdao
Fuzhou
Guangzhou
Fujian is a mountainous province with a rocky coastline on the Taiwan Straits and East China Sea. Fuzhou was a busy port all the way back in the Tang dynasty.
Starter level quiz on the traditions, geography, history and language of China (1).
