18 Strange Laws you should be aware of in China

18 Strange Laws you should be aware of in China

*Originally published by Faith on June 2022 and Updated by Vanessa R on May 2023 and Updated by Purity M in February 2024

China is notable for being one of the most populous countries in the world and also one with good economic standing despite its large population. To manage the large population there have to be rules and regulations set to ensure that the citizens know what is considered to be right or wrong. However, some laws may seem crazy and would make one wonder if they were truly meant to be passed or if there was a mistake on the part of the policymakers. Therefore, this article will delve into the laws that are followed in China that are strange to both the citizens and people who visit the country.

1. Cars are not allowed to stop at crosswalks

A picture of a crosswalk-Wikimedia

Cars are not allowed to stop at a pedestrian crossing. This law is strange since it is usually known that cars need to stop at crosswalks so that pedestrians can cross the road. But this is not the case in China where cars are not allowed to stop and let the pedestrians pass. This is according to the Beijing Traffic Laws which states that power-driven vehicle is forbidden to stop at a pedestrian crossing and even face a fine.

Therefore, when one is at a pedestrian crossing in China they should wait for cars to pass before they cross the road.

2. Intentionally having sex with another man’s wife is not allowed

This is one weird law where it is prohibited for one to have sex with another man’s wife intentionally. This means that when a man has sex with another person’s wife unintentionally then it is allowed. This beats the purpose of the law since one can argue that they did not know that the woman was married and thus beat the purpose of the law.

3. Dating a colleague is not allowed

A love heart by Juliescribbles-Wikimedia

Most workplaces make provisions for colleagues who are dating in the workplace. However, in Guangzhou province, an internet company has implemented some strict policies on dating where male employees who have been employed for less than a year are not allowed to date a colleague. Women in the company who have been employed in the company for three months and find a boyfriend who is not an employee of the company, the company has to vet him to determine if he is suitable.

This law is strange in that a person’s partner does not concern the company since it is their private life.

4. The secrets of sericulture are not to be shared

The art of silk making is associated with China since it is notable for this activity for the past centuries. Therefore, an ancient imperial rule was enacted that banned sharing of the secrets of sericulture. This law states that anyone found guilty of the offence was to be tortured to death.

The law is quite strange in that in contemporary society, it normal to exchange ideas so that one can come up with a better way of doing something and making work easier. However, this is not the case in China in that if one wants to lose their life then they just share the trade secrets of sericulture.

5. Naming children with strange names are not allowed

A picture of a newborn-Wikimedia

China prohibits naming children strange names. This law is strange as one would expect that the choice of a baby’s name depends on the parents as they are the ones who gave birth. In China, it is quite different as the government does not allow naming a child a name that sounds weird.

Therefore, if a name that a parent has thought of sounds okay to them but is considered to be weird, then they are not calling the child that name. To some extent, the rule is nice as it would ensure that people do not have names that make someone wonder what inspired them to name their child that particular name. The given names should also be translatable to Mandarin.

6. Children are required to salute passing cars

In China, it is customary for children to salute passing cars by raising their hands. This law is in place in Guizhou Province where the students of Luolang Elementary School are obligated by law to stop and raise their hands on the street when they see an incoming car

This law is weird but surprisingly, it has helped in reducing cases of small children being involved in accidents in that when they raise their hands, the drivers can see them and thus avoid hitting them.

7. Russians need to be announced when they approach

This rule is among the top strange things that are practised in China in that the citizens need to announce that a Russian is approaching. This law was implemented in 1907 where if a person failed to announce that a Russian was approaching, then the offence was punishable by death.

The consequences of this rule were a bit drastic as one nay has failed to announce that there was a Russian approaching because they were not paying attention to him. It is also strange that it was a requirement to announce that someone was approaching just because they were of a different nationality.

8. Storing explosives in the basement is not allowed

A picture of fireworks by Ondrejk-Wikimedia

China restricts house owners from storing more than a tonne of explosives like fireworks. This is a strange one in that why would someone be storing that many explosives in their house. For the law to be enacted, it means that they were people who were keeping that amount of fireworks in the basement which makes it even more bizarre.

9. Adult content is forbidden

China has a strict rule on the dissemination of adult content in that the information on the internet is restricted by the government. This rule is a bit strange in that even if the content is restricted, it will not prevent a person from being dirty-minded and thus beat the whole purpose of the law.

10. The students get loans from loan sharks

In most countries, students get their loans from the government which they will use to fund their education and then pay them later when they have already gotten jobs. This is not the case in China’s education system,  in that student loans are gotten from loan sharks who may take advantage of the students and set high-interest rates with limited timelines.

11. The death penalty is wild here

In most of East Asia’s nations and territories, including Japan, North Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, and Taiwan, the death penalty is still in practice. More people are put to death in China than in all other countries combined.

The government executed about 2,400 people for crimes of all types, including nonviolent ones, in 2014 alone. For instance, narcotics offences, as well as corporate and financial fraud, are “popular” choices. However, some Chinese families, believe it or not, claim that their loved ones were executed to hide cases of governmental corruption.

12. All land is owned by the government

Many Chinese people dream of leaving their homes to their children in the future, like the majority of homeowners. A home is a massive investment, so it makes sense to pass it on to the next generation after your passing or old age.

Yet folks only recently realised there might be an issue with that. Why is it a problem? while the average Chinese homeowner may own their home, they do not own the ground it is built upon. The Chinese government is the owner of that. Because of communism!

13. Their food safety regulations don’t really exist

Immanuel Giel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The lack of well-enforced or even existing food safety rules in China usually leads to horrifying news stories reaching the public. Two years ago, approximately 100,000 tonnes of expired meat were being attempted to be sold by meat smugglers (yep, meat smugglers).

And by “beyond their sell-by date,” we don’t just mean a few days or weeks. The beef in question was 40 years old. The fact that the smugglers didn’t even bother to conceal the package, which was obviously dated with stamps from the 1970s, makes this more alarming. 

14. Time travel shows and movies are banned

Film and television productions depicting time travel were officially banned in 2015. These are deemed by some to be frivolous and potentially disrespectful of historical accuracy. This peculiar rule is not about maintaining scientific accuracy, but rather concerns that these fantastical scenarios can trivialize history and promote a lack of respect for the past. This reflects the government’s desire to control narratives and interpretations of historical events.

15. “Thank You” Can Be Costly

Saying “thank you” to a police officer after a traffic ticket might be legally interpreted as an admission of guilt, showcasing the importance of understanding local customs and avoiding misunderstandings.

16. Strict Video Game Curfews

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash

Minors are banned from online gaming between 10 pm and 8 am and cannot exceed 90 minutes of gameplay per day, reflecting concerns about excessive screen time and its potential impact on young minds. Online gaming platforms are required to implement real-name verification to ensure that the gaming restrictions are applied to the intended age group.

17. Singing the National Anthem incorrectly might land you in trouble

Showing disrespect to the national anthem, ‘March of the Volunteers’, including singing it in a mocking fashion, is a punishable offense, reflecting the importance placed on national symbols and respect for the government. Individuals are also expected to stand at attention and show due respect when the national anthem is played or sung.

18. No Eating Bananas on Camera

In an unexpected turn of events, live-streaming platforms in China temporarily banned the act of eating bananas on camera. The phallic shape of the fruit led to concerns about the content being too suggestive. The decision was part of a broader effort to regulate online content and maintain cultural and moral standards.