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Dive into the rich history, vibrant culture, and fascinating geography of China with our comprehensive free 99-question trivia quiz with answers. Whether you're a China enthusiast or looking to expand your general knowledge, this quiz covers everything from ancient dynasties to modern innovations. Test your expertise and discover how much you really know about the world's most populous nation.
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Q 01What is the capital city of China?
Beijing
Beijing, formerly romanised as Peking, has been China's seat of government for most of the last six centuries, serving the Ming, the Qing and the People's Republic.
Q 02Which river is recognized as the longest in China?
Yangtze
The Yangtze runs about 6,236 km from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea, and its delta produces as much as a fifth of China's GDP.
Q 03Which large desert is partially located in northern China and southern Mongolia?
Gobi Desert
The Gobi Desert stretches across southern Mongolia and northern China; at about 1.3 million square kilometres it is Asia's second-largest desert, behind the Arabian Desert.
Q 04Which mountain range, spanning five countries in all, forms the natural border between China and Nepal?
Himalayas
The Himalayas span five countries: Nepal, India, China, Bhutan and Pakistan; the range rose as the Indian plate collided with Eurasia roughly 50 million years ago.
Q 05Which dynasty is credited with unifying China for the first time?
Qin
The Qin dynasty ended the Warring States period and unified China in 221 BCE, but it lasted only 15 years before the Han dynasty took over in 206 BCE.
Q 06Which river winds past the karst peaks of Guilin in Guangxi?
Li River
The Li River flows about 80 km from Guilin to Yangshuo between limestone karst towers; the scenery appears on the back of the 20-yuan banknote.
Q 07In which year did farmers digging a well in Lintong County uncover the Terracotta Army?
1974
Farmers digging a well near Lintong struck the first figures in March 1974; the soldiers' painted lacquer curls within seconds of meeting dry air, which is why most now look like plain clay.
Q 08The Great Wall of China was primarily constructed for what main purpose?
To defend against northern invasions
The Great Wall of China was primarily built and reinforced over centuries to protect the Chinese states and empires from raids and invasions by nomadic groups from the Eurasian Steppe, particularly the Mongols.
Q 09In what year was the People's Republic of China officially established?
1949
The People's Republic of China was proclaimed on 1 October 1949 in Tiananmen Square, after the Communist victory in the civil war drove the Nationalist government to Taiwan.
Q 10Who was the founding leader of the People's Republic of China?
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong was the principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his country's communist revolution and founded the People's Republic of China.
Q 11The last imperial dynasty of China, which fell in 1912, was which dynasty?
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) was the last imperial dynasty of China, overthrown by the Xinhai Revolution which led to the establishment of the Republic of China.
Q 12Which 1966 movement aimed to preserve Chinese communism by purging capitalist and traditional elements?
Cultural Revolution
The Cultural Revolution, launched by Mao in May 1966, ran until 1976 and ended only with his death and the arrest of the Gang of Four.
Q 13Which ancient trade route connected China with the West, facilitating cultural and economic exchange?
Silk Road
Q 21Which Ming ruler began the Forbidden City in 1406 after moving the capital north from Nanjing?
Yongle
The Yongle Emperor moved the Ming capital from Nanjing to Beijing and began the Forbidden City in 1406; finished in 1420, it housed 24 Ming and Qing emperors.
Q 22Which animal, native to China, is a global symbol of conservation and known for its black and white fur?
Giant Panda
The giant panda's scientific name, Ailuropoda melanoleuca, literally means 'black-and-white cat-foot'; the species was moved from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List in 2016.
Q 23Which dam near Yichang in Hubei is the world's largest power station by installed capacity?
Three Gorges Dam
The Silk Road's name was only coined in the late 19th century; the network itself grew from the Han envoy Zhang Qian's missions into Central Asia in the 2nd century BCE.
Q 14Which philosophical system did the Han Dynasty adopt as its state ideology?
Confucianism
Emperor Wu made Confucianism the Han court's official school of thought from around 136 BCE, blending it with Dong Zhongshu's cosmology.
Q 15What is the official currency of the People's Republic of China?
Yuan
Strictly the currency is the renminbi ('people's currency') and the yuan is its base unit, divided into 10 jiao and 100 fen.
Q 16Which traditional Chinese game, often played with tiles, translates to 'sparrow' in some dialects?
Mahjong
Mahjong is written with characters that mean 'sparrow' in Cantonese and other southern dialects; the clacking of tiles being shuffled is said to sound like chattering sparrows.
Q 17The Chinese Zodiac consists of how many animal signs?
12
The Chinese Zodiac is a repeating 12-year cycle, with each year represented by one of 12 animal signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig.
Q 18What is the official language of mainland China?
Mandarin
Mandarin Chinese, specifically Standard Mandarin, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Taiwan, and one of the four official languages of Singapore.
Q 19Which Chinese philosopher is linked to the 'Mandate of Heaven' and stressed ethics and social harmony?
Confucius
Confucius (551–479 BCE) lived amid the feuding states of the Spring and Autumn period and taught that rulers keep the Mandate of Heaven through virtue, ritual and social harmony.
Q 20Which of these inventions is attributed to ancient China?
Block printing
Block printing began in China as a way of printing patterns on cloth, with surviving examples from before 220 AD, and was being used for books by the Tang era.
The Three Gorges Dam's 22,500 MW of turbines generate roughly 95 TWh a year, and its reservoir stretches about 600 km upstream along the Yangtze.
Q 24Which historical period in China, following the Qing Dynasty, was established in 1912?
Republic of China
The Republic of China was established on January 1, 1912, following the Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty, ending over two millennia of imperial rule.
Q 25What is the traditional Chinese New Year also known as?
Spring Festival
The Spring Festival is Chinese New Year's name in mainland China, marking the end of winter and the beginning of a new year on the lunisolar calendar.
Q 26What is the highest mountain peak in China?
Mount Everest (Qomolangma)
Mount Everest, Qomolangma in Tibetan ('Holy Mother'), rises 8,849 m with its summit on the China–Nepal border, making it the highest point in China and on Earth.
Q 27Macau returned to Chinese sovereignty in 1999 after 442 years under which European power?
Portugal
Portugal settled Macau as a trading post with Ming permission in 1557 and handed it back on 20 December 1999, with its systems guaranteed for 50 years.
Q 28What traditional Chinese art form involves rhythmic brushstrokes to create characters?
Calligraphy
Chinese calligraphy is an ancient art form that uses brush and ink to write Chinese characters, valued for both its aesthetic beauty and the skill involved in its execution.
Q 29Which Chinese philosophical system is traditionally traced to the sage Laozi?
Daoism
Daoism (Taoism) is an ancient Chinese philosophy and religion whose central tenet is living in harmony with the Dao, an ultimate cosmic force. It is attributed to the sage Laozi.
Q 30What are the large circular communal dwellings of Fujian province called?
Tulou
Fujian Tulou are unique Chinese rural dwellings, typically large, enclosed, and circular or rectangular earthen buildings, inhabited by Hakka communities in the mountainous areas of southeastern Fujian.