5 fast facts about Ancient China. Around 3,000 years ago, people in ancient China used "oracle bones" — tortoise shells or bones inscribed with Chinese writing — to predict the future.

Of the nearly 2 million artifacts held by the Palace Museum – from centuries-old paintings to ancient bronzeware and rare ceramics – just 10,000 are currently showcased at a time.

The wall, which runs through a narrow mountain pass in the eastern province of Shandong, was first constructed in around 800 B.C. At that time, it was about 33 feet (10 meters) wide.