Weekly Recess

The World’s First Seismograph: How Ancient China Detected Earthquakes 1,800 Years Ago

Posted on September 10, 2025 (September 4, 2025) by weeklyrecess_admin

Over 1,800 years ago, long before modern technology, the ancient Chinese astronomer and inventor Zhang Heng created the world’s first seismograph in 132 AD. This ingenious bronze device could detect distant earthquakes by releasing small balls from dragons’ mouths into toads’ mouths—each indicating a different compass direction. Its historic detection of an earthquake 400 miles away astonished the imperial court and transformed the way societies understood and responded to seismic events. […]

Inside China’s Footbinding Tradition: The Painful Ritual of Lotus Shoes and Bound Feet

Posted on July 23, 2025 (July 23, 2025) by weeklyrecess_admin

In China, Lotus shoes were used to bind women’s feet to keep their feet small […]

Xin Zhui And The Story Of The Stunningly Intact Lady Dai Mummy

Posted on July 21, 2023 (May 15, 2024) by weeklyrecess_admin

A 2,000-year-old mummy of a Chinese woman, Xin Zhui, also known as “Lady Dai,” was preserved in 21 gallons of an “unknown liquid.” With her original hair, organs, eyebrows, and eyelashes intact, the mummy still has blood in her veins. Her skin and ligaments are soft and as flexible as that of a living person. […]

The beauty and uniqueness of Fukang Meteorite

Posted on October 22, 2022 (May 10, 2024) by weeklyrecess_admin

This Fukang meteorite is around 4.5 billion years old and weighs more than 2,000 pounds. It was discovered in China in 2014 and is assumed to have formed when our solar system initially formed. […]

A subway in Chongqing passes through a building (images)

Posted on September 13, 2022 (May 10, 2024) by weeklyrecess_admin

A train has been constructed through an apartment complex in Chongqing, China. The 19-story residential structure is not only passed by the light rail passenger train, but it also serves as a transit stop. Apartment residents can simply get a ride from the sixth to eighth levels. […]

Tourist in China left hanging from 330-ft-high glass bridge as wind blows away its panels

Posted on July 21, 2022 (July 13, 2025) by weeklyrecess_admin

The popular tourist attraction glass-bottomed bridge was shattered after a strong wind blew away its panels. A Chinese tourist was left stranded in strong winds 330 feet up on a glass-bottomed bridge. […]

Story of Peng Shuilin: Man with only half a body

Posted on January 30, 2022 (May 8, 2024) by weeklyrecess_admin

We have a habit of whining in our daily lives. We never seem to be pleased with the things we have in life. “I want to be skinny,” fat people say, “I want to be fat,” slim people say. Poor people aspire to be wealthy, and wealthy people are never satisfied with their status. Everywhere we go, we’re whining. Can you image how a man would want to live if he didn’t have any legs or bums at all? […]

China Weather Control on 2008 Olympics with missile

Posted on January 18, 2022 (May 8, 2024) by weeklyrecess_admin

One thing is certain: when it comes to ensuring nice weather for the world’s largest party, the Chinese cannot be accused of being subtle. The Chinese government authorized the use of 1,104 cloud seeding missile launches from 4:00-11:39 p.m. on Friday night to reduce the possibility of rain ahead of the 29th Olympic opening ceremony in Beijing […]