BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Germany is mostly known for its wide array of beers while Belgium is famous for its delicious chocolates. However, the two European countries are more than just that.
Here is a list of famous things in Germany and Belgium that may give you some insights into the two countries.
OKTOBERFEST
Oktoberfest is a famous festival in Germany that celebrates German heritage through local music, food and drinks.
Held in the southern German city of Munich, the festival lasts about 16 days, running from mid- or late September to the first weekend in October. The main highlight of the Oktoberfest is the costume and riflemen's parade among other festivities.
Around 6 million people from around the world would attend the event every year. In 2015, the festival officially served 7.3 million liters of beer, which is enough to fill nearly three Olympic-size swimming pools, according to data provided by the official website of the festival.
BERLIN WALL
Berlin is the capital city of Germany. The Berlin Wall enclosed West Berlin from Aug. 13, 1961 to Nov. 9, 1989, cutting a line through the entire city center, according to information provided by the Berlin Wall Memorial.
It was supposed to prevent East Berliners and citizens of East Germany from fleeing to the West. With the downfall of East Germany in 1989, the Berlin Wall also fell, it added.
Today, the Berlin Wall attracts numerous tourists to come and visit, and learn that period of history.
FAMOUS GERMAN FIGURES
Germany is famous for producing some of the greatest figures of the world. Albert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics.
Karl Marx, the great philosopher, economist and revolutionary socialist who came up with the idea of communism, was also an important historical figure from Germany.
Also, Germany was home to two of the most famous music composers of all time - Johann Sebastian Bach and Ludwig van Beethoven.
GERMAN CARS
German cars are renowned throughout the world. Brands such as Audi, Volkswagen, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche all have had their origins in Germany and are synonyms of high quality and innovation.
GERMAN CASTLES
Germany is famous for some of the most beautiful castles in the world. Each castle is rich in history and beauty.
Sitting atop mountains, most of these castles are furnished with numerous towers, ornamental turrets, gables, balconies and sculptures.
Built hundreds of years ago, these castles have been well maintained, with many of them serving as museums, restaurants and even hotels. A few are still occupied by descendants of families that once built them.
Owing to their ancient look and beauty, German castles have inspired a number of Disney movies, such as Cinderella, Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.
INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE OF BELGIUM
Despite being a tiny country, Belgium's long neutrality in history and its strategic location at the crossroads of Europe made it the seat of many international institutions, such as the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Brussels, the capital city of Belgium, is home to a total of 20 EU organizations and 42 intergovernmental organizations, and has some 300 regional and local representations, according to the latest "Brussels-Europe, the figures" report released by the Brussels tourist agency last year.
In addition, the Brussels-Capital Region houses 979 foreign journalists and 5,400 diplomats, the report added.
KINGDOM OF COMICS
With more than 700 professional comic strip authors, Belgium has more comic strip artists per square kilometer than any other country in the world, according to a report published by FNF Europe, the European and Transatlantic Dialogue Office of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, in December 2016.
The most famous Belgium comics include Adventures of Tintin and the Smurfs.
DIAMOND CAPITAL@ Antwerp, a major city in northern Belgium, is known as the diamond capital of the world, with a vast majority of diamonds sold globally pass through the city.
WORLD'S LONGEST TRAMWAY
Stretching 68 km in length, the Belgium Coast Tram is the longest tramway line in the world. Opened in 1885, the tramway is a public transport service connecting cities and towns along the entire Belgian coast between De Panne near the French border and Knokke-Heist near the Dutch border.
