Strange, Unusual, and Expensive Things You Can Find Only in China

Est. Value: $55 million*
Produced By: Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area 

One of the most can’t-miss attractions in China is its Leshan Giant Buddha Statue. This statue stretches to the sky, measuring 71 meters (233 feet, for Americans) in height. This popular tourist attraction sits near Leshan in Sichuan Province.

The World's Largest Buddha Statue ©Ariel Steiner/Wikimedia Commons

Constructed during the Tang Dynasty, which lasted from 618 A.D. to 907 A.D.), the Giant Buddha took over nine decades to complete. It honors Maitreya Bodhisattva, depicting him posing with his hands on his knees while sitting on a lotus throne. He is massive, with his height making him one-sixth the size of the Comcast skyscraper in Philadelphia.

Est. Value: $3 to view from a platform*
Produced by: Houtouwan 

Houtouwan is known as the Green Village, thanks to it being swallowed by nature. Green plants and foliage blanket the long-abandoned city, which was once a prosperous fishing hub on Shengshan Island.

The Green Village ©oceanfishing/shutterstock.com

The village once was home to over 2,000 fishermen, but problems with access to food delivery, educational resources, and more led the fishermen and their families to abandon Houtouwan to nature in the 1990s.  

Est. Value: $0.83 for a ride (one way)*
Produced by: Longqing Gorge 

Longqing Gorge is one of the largest dams in China, surrounded by pleasant scenery…and a gigantic dragon escalator. This bright yellow monster is the largest outdoor escalator in the world, taking people up from the base of the gorge to the top.

Dragon Escalator @atlasobscura/Pinterest

Once you get to the top, you can ride in a cable car or take a boat trip on Longqing’s artificial lake. If you’re a thrill-seeker, you’re even permitted to bungee jump, too. The peak has a lot of activities, all of which are surrounded by cheese, fantastical displays of fake animals snarling in scary poses.  

Est. Value: $725-$2,759 per duck*
Produced by: Chinese Pet Markets

As Sixth Tone put it, “Chinese millennials are daffy for ducks.” The prices for a pet duck aren’t cheap, with some reaching as high as $2,759. The domesticated, adorable ducks, which can be walked on a leash, are a niche, yet large, market.

Ducks On Leashes @onediocom/Pinterest

You might not want to let your pet duck off its leash in China. In 2023, Chinese police managed to rescue a stolen pet duck worth $725 just a few minutes before he was cooked and eaten by a hungry thief. Happily, Shanghai police were able to return the pet bird to its rightful owner, a six-year-old boy who was inconsolable that his pet had been stolen. 

Est. Value: $10-$20 to make*
Produced by: Sichuan, China

If you’re a fan of spicy foods, you can’t go wrong with a Sichuan hotpot, a true delicacy from China. This hotpot is not for the faint of heart, as it is hot, spicy, and boiling. It is made by poaching raw ingredients.

Spicy Hotpot ©Hawyih /wikipedia.com

These ingredients include seafood, meat, offal, vegetables, noodles, and, of course, spicy Sichuan peppercorns. This traditional stew originated in Sichuan, but it has become popular throughout the country, both for locals and adventuresome tourists.

Est. Value: $200,000*
Produced by: Florentijn Hoffman

No matter where you live in the world, if you’re by a major body of water, chances are you’ve had a gigantic rubber duck grace your shores. In 2013 in Hong Kong, this world famous art installation went on display.

The Giant Rubber Duck ©Lewis Tse/shutterstock.com

The six-story rubber duck enticed viewers who went to see it, though, sadly, it deflated on May 15^th. However, Rubber Duck was down but not out, as Hong Kong reinflated it and set it to rights on May 20^th.

Est. Value: $2-$24*
Produced by: Zhang Shifan 

Well, that’s one way to avoid getting a sunburn. The face-kini was created by Zhang Shifan as a way to keep UV rays, insects, jellyfish, and other irritants at bay for beachgoers. These face masks are made from the same material as bathing suits.

The Face-Kini ©Hong Wu /Getty Images

The face-kini costs $2 to $4 for a regular model, but more advanced ones cost as much as $24. In 2019, Shifan launched a face-kini model that covered not just the face and neck, but the wearer’s entire body from top to bottom. 

Est. Value: 50%-90% cheaper than the real thing*
Produced by: DHGate, AliExpress, Pinduoduo, Taobao, and More 

China has a low-cost labor force, adaptive technologies, and a high production rate, and these three elements combine to form the perfect storm of counterfeiting. China is the land of fake brands, from hilariously-fake knockoffs to fakes so close, they are almost the real thing.

Fake Brands @5minutecraftsfamily/Pinterest

According to the OECD, China creates three-quarters of the world’s fake brands. “Made in China” has its own connotation, particularly when said in the States, and buyers all over the world have to check twice to ensure they’re getting the real thing, not a Chinese knockoff.  

Est. Value: $30 to compete*
Produced by: Hunan Province 

China is a country not afraid of spicy food. This goes double for the Hunan Province, which hosts an internationally-known spicy chili pepper eating contest every year. The festival sees competitors battle over who can eat the most chilis in the shortest amount of time.

Chili Pepper Eating Contest ©VCG /Getty Images

The festival kicks off in July of each year, continuing all month. Things get pretty competitive. For example, a year ago on opening day, a contestant named Tang Shuaihui ate fifty chili peppers in just over a minute, smoking his competition and proving he was truly too hot to handle. 

Est. Value: $100-$300 a night to stay*
Produced by: Qingdao No. 1 Bathing Beach & Others 

This picture features a Chinese resort located at the No. 1 Bathing Beach (Qingdao). This wide, sandy beach is famous for its swimming and sunbathing, but you shouldn’t go there if you don’t like crowds.

Packed Resorts @dailymail/Pinterest

China has a lot of people, and it seems as though everyone, from tourists to locals, flock to the resorts and beaches when the temperature gets hot. This can create intense crowds. Though locals are used to tight quarters, Westerners are definitely not as comfortable with being nose-to-nose with thousands of strangers.   

Est. Value: $1-$2 per fish*
Produced by: Women in China 

Known, fittingly, as the “Fish in Collarbone Challenge,” this silly phase was all the rage in China during the mid-2010s. With this trend, girls would try to fit fish into their collarbones. The more fish they could fit in their clavicle dents, the thinner they were.

Carrying Fish in Your Clavicles @onediocom/Pinterest

Women posted pictures on Weibo showcasing how deep their dents were during this trend. Obviously, the Fish in Collarbone Challenge would never fly now, not with the current body positivity movement taking the world by storm.   

Est. Value: $13 billion*
Produced By: The Palace Museum 

A very famous landmark from Beijing is the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City got its name because it was the Imperial Palace from the Ming to Qing Dynasty, and only imperial household members, members of the Royal Family, and government officials were allowed there.

The Forbidden City in Beijing ©Daily Travel Photos/Shutterstock.com

Most subjects of the Chinese realm were banned from entry, with grievous consequences if they were caught. Now, the Forbidden City is open to all who want to see its 9,000 rooms spread out across 180 acres.  The City is full of endless, Disney-like beauty.

Est. Value: $2 billion*
Produced By: Shaanxi Province Government 

Huashan Mountain is one of China’s most famous mountain ranges, and it has been a popular tourist destination for hundreds of years. Famous for its breathtaking views and steep cliffs, Huashan’s mountain consists of five peaks.

Huashan Mountain ©Stor24/Shutterstock.com

In addition to its stunning topography, Huashan also has several temples including the Tang Dynasty’s Temple of the Five Immortals, amid its range. Those visiting Huashan can learn more about traditional Chinese architecture and culture, and they can also bask in its healing powers.

Est. Value: Undisclosed
Produced By: Chengdu Research Base 

The Giant Panda is a bear that is endemic to China, known for being absolutely adorable. Adult females can grow up to 280 pounds, and, in the wild, these Pandas can live up to 20 years. Alas, due to deforestation and other human-induced causes, the Panda population is vulnerable.

©V-yan/Shutterstock.com

Luckily, Pandas are increasing slowly but surely, thanks to efforts from centers like Chengdu. The Chengdu Research Base houses over 100 Giant Pandas, which are bred under controlled conditions and released into the wild. The Center is all about protecting this endangered species, which National Geographic says munches on bamboo for twelve hours a day.