Convert Chinese Mu to Hectare easily.

Land measurement can feel like decoding ancient scrolls when dealing with units like the Chinese Mu. Whether you're reviewing property documents in rural China or analyzing agricultural data, understanding how to convert Mu to hectares bridges tradition and modernity. Let’s unravel this practical conversion together.

Unit definitions

What is a chinese mu (畝)?

The Mu (pronounced "moo") has measured land in China for over 2,000 years. Farmers still use it daily to describe field sizes, though the government officially adopted metric units in 1984. Symbol: 畝. One modern Mu equals exactly 666.6667 square meters. That’s about two-thirds of a basketball court.

What is a hectare (ha)?

This metric unit became standard during the French Revolution. Symbol: ha. One hectare equals 10,000 square meters (100m x 100m). Picture a international rugby field. That’s roughly one hectare. Used globally for agriculture, forestry, and urban planning.

Conversion formula

1 Mu = 0.0667 hectares
1 Hectare = 15 Mu

Example calculations

1. Converting 3 Mu to hectares:
   3 Mu × 0.0667 = 0.2001 ha
2. Converting 2.5 hectares to Mu:
   2.5 ha × 15 = 37.5 Mu

Conversion tables

Mu to hectares

Hectares to Mu

From imperial fields to metric farms

The Mu’s history begins during the Qin dynasty (221-206 BCE), when standardized measurements helped unify China. Originally varying by region, the Mu was fixed to 240 square bu (a traditional length unit). Modern standardization in 1929 aligned it with metric values, creating the 666.6667m² definition we use today.

Hectares entered the scene during the metric system’s 1795 debut in France. The word combines "hecto-" (100) with "are" (100m²). Though Europe quickly adopted hectares, China maintained Mu usage even after metrication, creating today’s dual-system reality. Farmers might discuss crop yields per Mu while government reports use hectares.

Interesting facts

1. Beijing’s Forbidden City covers approximately 720,000 Mu (48,000 hectares)
2. 1 Mu equals 0.1647 acres – useful for US-China land comparisons
3. Some Chinese real estate listings show prices per Mu and per square meter
4. The Mu’s size was historically adjusted based on crop yields and tax policies
5. Mongolia uses a similar unit called the "jerib," equal to 2,000m²

FAQ