Noodles were most credibly invented in ancient China, with the earliest physical evidence being 4,000-year-old noodles made from millet discovered in Qinghai province. These noodles are considered some of the oldest known, and Chinese historical records from the Han dynasty also describe noodle dishes. The invention of noodles in China is tied to agricultural developments in wheat and rice cultivation and was culturally significant as a symbol of life, health, and prosperity. While noodles and pasta have also developed independently in other regions, including the Mediterranean, Chinese origins of noodles are the most historically supported.
The idea that Italian pasta came directly from China through Marco Polo has been debunked; historical evidence suggests noodles existed in China long before pasta appeared in the Mediterranean. The two noodle traditions likely evolved separately.