Ancient China was no doubt a pioneer in the study of the physical world. From papermaking and the printing press to gunpower and the compass, these ancient inventions have become an inseperable part of modern day life. On Thursday, China's top science academy has published a list featuring 88 of ancient China's major scientific and technological achievements. And you'd be surprised by how much we've taken them for granted.

Papermaking and the compass are not the only inventions of ancient China who never applied for patents for the decimal system, rockets and variolation to name just a few.

Thanks to the Chinese Academty of Sciences' latest efforts, a list of 88 major ancient Chinese scientific and technological achievements have been published. The list contains three categories: engineering, scientific findings and technology.

Pinhole imaging and linear equations are among the major scientific findings, while rice and wheat cultivation, the crossbow and the stirrup have been identified as technological achievements, and the Dujiangyan irrigation system and the Great Wall of China classified as major engineering feats.

"The project took us three years to complte and the list covers a wide range of areas, dealing with not only technological inventions but also engineering advancements like the Great Wall and the Dujiangyan irrigation system. And we've also enlisted foreign experts to share their opinions," said Zhang Bochun, Head of History of Natural Science, CAS.

The team will continue with their research on refining each category in hopes of sheding new light on today's scientific and technological innovation.

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