The world’s largest film studio is Hengdian Studios, in China. Basically a city of permanent full-scale replicas of palaces, fortresses, and towns from various periods of China’s history. Whole populations of nearby towns are often employed to be extras for period dramas & fantasy movies.
China
In a subway station in the Chinese city…
In a subway station in the Chinese city of Nanjing, vending machines sell live crabs. The crabs are kept at 0-10° C (32-50° F) – not enough to freeze them, but cold enough to make them docile. Around 200 crabs are sold daily – and if you buy a dead one, you’ll get three live ones for free.
The Chinese Army has been training…
The Chinese Army has been training 10,000 pigeons to provide support to the military’s communications in the event that war renders its modern technology unusable. The pigeons, flying at speeds of up to 75 miles (120 km) per hour, are being trained to carry loads of up to 3.5 oz (100 g).
Some schools in China now have uniforms…
Some schools in China now have uniforms with tracking devices in them. This is done to monitor attendance. If students try to leave during school hours, an alarm will go off.
A doctor in China used CRISPR…
A doctor in China used CRISPR to edit the genes of twin girls to be more resistant to HIV, creating the first genetically engineered “designer babies.” The Chinese government sentenced him to to 3 years in prison for illegal medical practice.
Wong Kei is one of the UK’s largest Chinese…
Wong Kei is one of the UK’s largest Chinese restaurants and once described as “the rudest restaurant in London”: staff would shout at customers, insult them if they asked for knives and forks, and chase them down the street if they felt they had not tipped enough.
In 12th century China…
In 12th century China, sunglasses with lenses made from smoky quartz were used by court judges to mask their facial expressions and appear impartial.
Considered the greatest poet in Chinese literature…
Considered the greatest poet in Chinese literature, Li Bai dedicated to alcohol a good chunk of his poems and drunkeness due to his rampant alcoholism. Legend has that he drowned after drunkenly trying to embrace the moon’s reflection upon the river during a ferry-ride.
Some of his classic poems on getting hammered are on the wiki-page:
While evaluating security at…
While evaluating security at a Fortune 5 company, a penetration tester was suspicious that the small-town restaurant across the street served black duck eggs, a rare Chinese delicacy. The restaurant was reported to the FBI and was revealed to be a front for a Chinese espionage operation.
In 2005, a chinese man found that…
In 2005, a Chinese man found that he could still buy lottery tickets within a 5 minute window after the winning numbers were announced. this allowed him to win over $4 million. when chinese authorities caught on, he was sentenced to life in prison.
There is a popular resort town…
There is a popular resort town in China that is a near-replica of Jackson Hole, Wyoming, complete with its own Teton Village and Million Dollar Cowboy Bar. The town’s Chinese name translates literally to “Hometown, USA”.
The descendants of the Ming Dynasty…
The descendants of the Ming Dynasty, whose last Emperor lost power in 1644, are not only alive and well, but still hold vast wealth and power over modern-day China, occupying top positions in the ruling Communist Party and various state corporations, schools, and societies.