Given the country's been under a strict Communist regime since the 1940s, it's no surprise China is home to some pretty strange laws. Over the years, China has become notorious for its ever growing list of bans. Why does China ban things? The Chinese government seeks to suppress free speech via banning anything deemed subversive. How does this pan out in reality? From the days of Mao Zedong to present, repressive legislation has resulted in some rigid and often downright bizarre bans.



The term "subversive" is apparently subjective, as demonstrated by items that are banned in China. Most people know social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are banned and that the Communist Party is a big fan of outlawing books and banning American movies. However, did you know things like Jasmine flowers, architecture deemed "weird," and even some celebrities are not allowed in China? If you're interested to learn more, browse the list below!