20 Cool Facts From Ancient China That’ll Blow Your Mind

Yu the Great was a legendary ruler in ancient China famed for his introduction of flood control, inaugurating dynastic rule in China by establishing the Xia Dynasty. Yu was regarded as an ideal ruler and kind philosopher-king by the ancient Chinese.

A 4th-century Chinese poet named Su Hui wrote a poem in the form of a twenty-nine by twenty-nine character grid. Each line can be read forward or backward, horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This arrangement allows for 2,848 different readings.

There is an Iron Pagoda built that was built in 1049 by the Chinese Song dynasty. It has experienced 38 earthquakes, six floods, and many other disasters, but it remains intact after almost 1000 years.

Wu Zetian, the only reigning Empress of China was the wife of two different Emperors, who eventually usurped the throne and ruled through brutal use of murder, betrayal, and secret police forces.

In ancient China, doctors could receive fees only if their patient was cured. If it deteriorated, they would have to pay the patient.

During the Qing Dynasty in China, Emperor Qianlong was able to cancel taxes four times during his reign because the imperial treasury was so full.

Liu Bang, the founder of China's Han Dynasty, had such contempt for Confucian scholars in his early years that whenever he saw one wearing the school's distinctive hat, he'd snatch the hat off their head and piss in it.

During the Tang Dynasty (around 600-900 A.D.), Pekingese dogs were purposely bred to fit into the sleeves of the aristocrats as hidden weapons for self-defense.

Xiang Yu the night before attacking the Qin dynasty burnt all his own boats and cooking equipment so his troops had no other option but to fight till victory or perish.

In Ancient China, people used to drink panda urine if they accidentally swallowed a needle.