Heritage There are nearly five million people in Scotland but another 50 million people worldwide claim Scottish heritage.
Golf Scotland is the home of golf and has 550 courses including the world-famous Old Course at St Andrews. Scotland will host the 40th Ryder Cup in 2014 at Gleneagles when the tournament will return after a 40 year absence.
Thistle Scotland's nation symbol is the thistle.
Exports Scotland exports over 12 million salmon every year, more to China than anywhere else in the Far East.
Whisky Scotland’s most famous export is Scotch whisky, a drink made only in Scotland. There are over 100 distilleries and more than 2,500 varieties of Scotch whisky.
Discovery Many life-changing discoveries and inventions have been made by Scots including the telephone, television, the first bionic hand, the bicycle, Dolly the Sheep, penicillin and anaesthetic.
Education Scotland has the highest concentration of universities in Europe and more than half of Scotland’s academic research is rated as either world-leading or internationally excellent.
The Arts Scotland’s capital city Edinburgh is home to the world’s largest arts festival the Edinburgh International Festival and its Fringe. One of the highlights in 2011 was a sell-out performance by the National Ballet of China of The Peony Pavilion.
The Scottish bard Scotland’s national poet Robert Burns is celebrated all over the world on January 25 each year. His best-known work ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is famous the world over including China where it is often sung at student graduation ceremonies to represent enduring friendship.
Patron Saint St Andrew’s Day is Scotland’s national day and is celebrated each year on November 30.
Film Scotland’s spectacular landscapes have long been immortalised on the silver screen. Films set in Scotland include Braveheart, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Mrs Brown.
Energy Scotland has over 6,000 miles of coastline and around 25 per cent of Europe’s offshore wind and tidal resource – and ten per cent of its wave power potential.
Living Scots Famous living Scots include the actor Sir Sean Connery, tennis player Andy Murray, singer Susan Boyle and Beijing Olympic cycling triple gold medal winner Chris Hoy.
Invention Scotland has spawned an amazing number of great thinkers and inventors for its size including Adam Smith, James Watt, David Hume, Sir Alexander Fleming and Alexander Graham Bell.
Flags The Scottish national flag is a white cross on a blue background also known as the Saint Andrew’s Cross or the Saltire.
Royalty Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, met and fell in love whilst studying at Scotland’s oldest university, St Andrews. The couple have been given the Scottish title the Earl and Countess of Strathearn.
Geography Scotland has over 283 mountains over 3,000 feet, 99 inhabited islands and six cities.
Tartan Tartan, one of Scotland’s most instantly recognisable symbols, has been found in Scotland for 1,700 years. In honour of China’s friendship with Scotland, a special tartan was created in 2006.
Research More medical research is carried out per head of population in Scotland than anywhere else in Europe.
Legends Scotland has over 500 fresh and saltwater lochs. The largest and possibly most famous of these is Loch Ness which is world-renowned for sightings of a legendary monster – ‘Nessie'.
