So you’ve got your shiny new TEFL certificate, you’ve landed yourself a TEFL job and you’re about to head out to China for an amazing adventure. Just before you do just check out some of these crazy laws that you might not have known existed...
1) In an attempt to limit China’s population growth you can only have one child, or you will have to pay a fine.
2) Drivers of power-driven vehicles who stop at pedestrian crossings are liable to a fine of up to five yen, or a warning – Well I guess that helps the objectives of Number 1…
3) It's illegal to own a red car in Shanghai, China.
4) You cannot store explosives in your basement; Chinese law forbids householders from storing more than a tonne of explosives in their basement. That’s fair enough but how many people were storing so many fireworks in their basement for this law to come about!?
5) Women are prohibited from walking around a hotel room in the nude, only in the bathroom… I’m not sure how they go about policing this?!
6) Chinese law states that to go to college you must be intelligent. I’m guessing the person who came up with this law didn’t go to the University of Statingtheobvious.
7) An obscure law states that a man cannot eat another man’s wife intentionally as part of a meal – So if it’s not intentional it’s okay!? Or if it’s just as a snack then it’s fine right?
8) In Shanghai the one child policy has been extended to animals! You are only allowed one dog per household.
9) Children at an Elementary school in Guizhou Province are required by local law to stop and raise their hands to all cars which pass them on the street. Apparently this has actually reduced the number of car accidents involving children to zero.
10) An ancient law states that anyone who is caught sharing the secrets of silk-making was to be tortured to death. Well I’m guessing that seen as though the art of silk-making made it out of China, the person who let it slip faced torture?
Fancy heading to China yourself? You could be experiencing China’s fascinating (if not crazy at times!) culture yourself with the Teach in China Internship in August! You’ll spend five amazing months teaching English and exploring China. Download your free guide to teaching in China to get the lowdown here - http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-china-guide.html
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here in japan people are supposed to stop at crossing but dont - so, because the police can man every crossing the solution is to have little yellow flags or to get people, especially children, to raise their hand to cross - so if you ever come to japan - a zebra crossing (the black and white crossing) does not always mean you have right of way and that cars will stop!
taxis in shanghai are red so maybe that law is not so silly. especially if people cannot read
the bit about not being naked in a hotel room only applies to women in mixed company and who are not alone with their spouse.
the bit about pedestrian crossing s is because they are mainly controlled (ie have lights) to stop when the lights are green can cause major traffic problems.
Hey Laura
An update on your number 1 law about the one-child policy.....which now is more complicated!!!If 2 "only" children marry then they are now allowed to have 2 children (basically to replace themselves) I'm guessing that with the latest census results which showed an "ageing" population the powers that be have decided that they better make sure there ar people to look after them when they grow old!!!!
Interestingly when I talk to Chinese people about this change many still say they can only afford to have one child.....one wonders what the next policy change might be to ensure the "oldies" are looked after!!!
Thanks for the info on law number 2......might explain why I've had several close encounters with wayward vehicles when I have a green walk sign!!!! In conversation with some students this week I was told the minimum age to get a licence was 18 - when I commented on the number of drivers on motorbikes that were clearly under this age - I was told 'not to worry" its OK as long as they dont run anyone over!!!
Oh the delights of living in a foreign country!!!
Cheers, Katie.
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