This translated article discusses China's obsession with setting world records. China holds a large number of world records certified by the Guinness Book of World Records. The nation's eccentric list of records includes everything from World's Tallest Man to World's Largest Ice Cream Cake.

The goal of the Guinness World Records is to challenge the limits of nature. Chinese people have long been fascinated with Guinness World Records and the “miracles,” that break them. In recent years, record setting activities have been organized by companies and government agencies for marketing and publicity purposes.

In the 1950s, Hugh Beaver, chairman of the Guinness Brewery, first hatched the idea to compile a book of world records. In the 1980s, the Guinness Book of World Records was introduced to the Chinese public through a CCTV special titled, “The Guinness Book of World Records Collection.” The show was played many times during the next few years in China.

1) World's Largest Hot Spring Gathering

On October 30, 2011, Chongqing citizens attempted to set the world record for number of people bathing together in a hot spring. 15 of the city's large and small spas were involved.

2) World's Tallest Man

As of 2011, China had 454 Guinness Book World Records, ranking seventh in the world. On July 13, 2007, Inner Mongolia's 2.36 meter tall Bao Xishun and 0.73 meter tall He Pingping shook hands for the first time. Bao Xishun was certified as the “World's Tallest Man,” and was awarded a Guinness Book of World Records certificate on January 17, 2005. He has since lost the title but remains one of the tallest men in history.

3) World's Longest Train Pull

On June 3, 2005, in Dehui, Jilin, 39 year old Zhang Xingquan pulled a 24 ton locomotive train 50 meters. The train was attached to the young man with ropes to a weight on his lower abdomen. 

4) World's Most Acupuncture Needles in Face

A Guinness World Record with Chinese characteristics: on January 9, 2007, Wei Shengchu stuck 1,200 acupuncture needles in his face and head in a performance at a hotel in Chongqing. Wei once held the world record when he inserted 1,790 acupuncture needs into his face. The record has since been broken.

5) World's Most Expensive Tea

“Panda tea,” is brewed from panda droppings and is made in Sichuan. In the spring of 2013, a pound of panda tea sold for 220,000 Yuan. The tea holds the Guinness Book of World Records record for “World's Most Expensive Tea.”

6) World's Largest Piece of Calligraphy

On September 25, 2013 in Xinzheng, Henan at the Zhengzhou International School sports field, contemporary calligrapher Yuan Mingqi coordinated the world's largest piece of calligraphy. The piece read “Chinese Dream,” and set the Guinness world record for largest piece of calligraphy.

7) World's Largest Tai Chi Gathering

On August 8, 2009, in Beijing on the first anniversary of the opening day of the Beijing Olympics, China celebrated “National Fitness Day.” At 7 a.m., 34,000 Beijingers danced together in front of the Bird's Nest stadium doing Tai Chi. The giant gathering broke a Guinness world record.

8) World's Largest Mahjong Gathering

On September 19, 2013, Dujiangyan, a city in Sichuan, held a “People's Mahjong Challenge,” in which 2,380 people gathered together to play mahjong. Even though the weather was rainy that day, so many people came to play mahjong that the city broke the Guinness world record and the record has been certified by the official Guinness World Records office.

9) World's Largest Pattern

On May 20, 2012, a company placed 23, 171 pairs of pants over a total of 6381 square meters to create a pattern on the ground of Zhengzhou's Henan University of Technology's sports field. This feat won a record for “World's Largest Created Pattern,” in the Guinness Book of World Records.

10) World's Largest Ice Bucket Challenge

On September 6, 2014, the largest “Ice Bucket Challenge,” for charity occurred in Xiamen. 1,000 people dumped icy water on their head from the Taiwan Strait in order to break the world record and raise money for M.S. Participants each donated 100 Yuan in order to take part in the challenge.

11) World's Largest Foot Spa

In Yichun, Jiangxi, the world record for “Largest Foot Spa Activity,” was set on September 14, 2013. 10,083 people participated in the foot spa and the record was verified by the Shanghai Guinness World Records headquarters.

12) World's Largest Modeling Contest

The record for the largest modeling contest was set in July 14, 2004, in Qingdao Shandong. The 5,000 participating models first had a photo shoot on the beach to begin the contest and the finals of the competition were held at Qingdao's Beer Festival in early August. The record made it into the Guinness Book of World Records.

13) World's Largest Foot Massage Gathering

On November 6, 2010, 1,005 people gathered in Xi'an Qujiang Convention and Exhibition Center to enjoy foot massages in order to break a Guinness World Record.

14) World's Largest Digital Pattern…with the Most Snowmen

The record for “Digital Pattern with the Most Snowmen” was set on December 23, 2010, at Shenyang's Ice and Snow World. Fireworks were set off simultaneously against the backdrop of 2,011 snowmen. 2,011 students participated in building the 500 meter wide and 120 meter long display. The record was certified by the Shanghai Guinness World Records headquarters.

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