Introduce of China's geography

Introduce of China's geography

The People’s Republic of China (PRC), commonly known as China, is a country in East Asia, which includes a vast land mass with over 1.3 billion people (6th Census of Population of China, 2010) and a history of more than 5,000 years. Its capital city is Beijing.

At about 9. 6 million square kilometers, China is the third largest country in the world by total area and the second largest by land area. Its landscape is diverse with forest steppes and deserts in the dry north near Mongolia and Russia’s Siberia and subtropical forests in the wet south close to Vietnam, Laos, and Burma. The terrain in the west is rugged and produces a high altitude. Moreover, the Himalayas and the Tianshan mountain range from China’s natural borders with India and Central Asia. In contrast, mainland China’s eastern seaboard is low-lying and has a 14,500- kilometer-long coastline bounded on the southeast by the South China Sea and on the east by the East China Sea beyond which lie the Koreas and Japan.

China is one of the four ancient civilized countries in the world. With the rapid development of China’s reform and open policies, tourism is on the rise. Every year people from different countries come to China to relax and sightsee at many places of interest.

China has perhaps the world’s longest continuous civilization. Chinese people created a culture with strong philosophies, traditions, and values. Almost everywhere tourists encounter amazing natural scenes together with their everlasting legends and myths. A person visiting in China not only admires the varied natural sceneries and historical sites, but also learns about the people, tradition, and culture.

This chapter gives a brief introduction to China’s territory, area, regionalism, population, landform, and climate. It is written to offer help to people who want to learn about her in general.

For traveling in China, this chapter introduces some well-known natural scenic spots and historical sites, especially the places that have been listed in the World Heritage such as Guilin, Mount Huangshan, the Yellow River, the Changjiang River, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses. By reviewing such places, a reader obtains a general knowledge of Chinese history and culture.

The introduction follows a route that starts from the roof of the world - Mount Qomolangma and Tibet, then Guilin, Xi’an, the Yellow River, Beijing, Mount Huangshan, Wu Yue (The Five Sacred Mountains), the Changjiang River, and Hangzhou. Finally, our overview ends in Chengdu, a famous city with both beautiful natural scenery and historical spots.

Territory and Area

The People's Republic of China is located in the eastern part of the Asian continent, on the western Pacific Rim. It is a vast piece of land, covering about 9.6 million square kilometers with countless mountains, rivers, lakes and different landforms like plains, basins, plateaus, and deserts. From west to east, the nation extends about 5,200 kilometers with a time difference of over four hours. The farthest northern point in China is located in the north of Mohe in Heilongjiang Province. The farthest southern point is located at Zengmu'ansha in the Nansha Islands, approximately 5,500 kilometers away. China roughly has 22,8000 kilometers of land borders. The Bohai Sea, Yellow Sea, East China Sea, and the South China Sea border her to the east to south, forming a vast maritime border area.

Regionalism and Population

China consists of 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions. China has more than 1.3 billion people, making up a quarter of the world population. There are 56 ethnic groups, and the Han nationality is the largest one. The Han make up 92% of the total population. The other 55 minority ethnic groups all have their traditions, cultures, and heritage.

China's geography is highly diverse with hills, plains, and river deltas in the east, but deserts, high plateaus, and mountains in the west. The climate is equally varied, ranging from tropical in the south to subarctic in northeastern China.

China’s surface slopes down from west to east like a four-step staircase. The top of the staircase is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, with an average altitude of more than 4,000 meters. It is known as the “Roof of the World.” The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is composed of rows of snow-capped peaks and glaciers. The major mountain ranges are the Kunlun, the Gandise, and the Himalayas. The second step consists of Inner Mongolia, the Loess Plateau, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, and the Tarim, Junggar and Sichuan basins. This area has an average altitude of 1,000 meters.

The third step, about 500 -1,000 meters in elevation, begins at the line from the Taihang, Wushan and Xuefeng mountain ranges eastward to the sea coast. Running from north to south are the Northeast Plain, the North China Plain and the Middle-lower Yangtze Plain. Here, you will find the plains, hills, and foothills interspersed.

To the east of the third step, the shallow water of the continental shelf, an extension of the land into the ocean forms the fourth step of the imaginary staircase. The depth of the water here is less than 200 meters and is filled with large quantities of mud and sand which are carried into the sea by rivers.

Mount Qomolangma and Tibet

Western China's Himalayan Mountains, which are located on the border between Nepal and Tibet, are regarded as the highest land in the world. Mount Qomolangma (know as Mount Everest), is over 8,844.43 meters in height. It is the highest peak and is shaped like a gigantic pyramid. It is considered full of power and grandeur as it towers into the sky.

The land features are extraordinarily precipitous, and the environment is very complicated. Its north slope is Tingri County of the Tibet Autonomous Region while the south slope is in the Kingdom of Nepal.

In Tibetan Language, Qomolangma means "Goddess the Third" which adds more magic power and mystery to the mountain. In 1865, the mountain was given its English name by Andrew Waugh, the British surveyor-general of India. Climbing Mount Qomolangma is the dream of mountaineers all over the successful ascent was in 1953 by the New Zealander Tenzing Norgay from Nepal.

Guilin City

Situated in the northeast of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous always been famous for its picturesque scenery.

The Elephant Trunk Hill is one of the most famous and fabulous places in Guilin. It is an unusually shaped hill with particular limestone formation and is considered the symbol of the city. It is named so because of its resemblance to an elephant's sipping water from the Lijiang River with its trunk. Besides the Elephant Trunk Hill, Lijiang River is another icon of Guilin scenery.

Lijiang River cruises from Guilin to Yangshuo and opens up a spectacular natural scenery of the mountains along the river. This area is publicly recognized as a first-class tourist resort in the world.

Xi’an City

As the capital of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an, called Chang, and in ancient times, is one of the six ancient cities of China with a history of more than 3,100 years. The other five ancient cities are Beijing, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Kaifeng, and Luoyang. During the 3,100 years’ development, 13 different dynasties established their capitals in Xi’an, making the city a living history book of China.

Xi’an is famous throughout the world for its life-sized terracotta warriors and horses. They can be found in the Tomb of Qin Shihuang and have won fame as one of the greatest archaeological finds of the 20th century. In 1974, some farmers unearthed a few brown pottery fragments while digging a well. This led to the incredible discovery of the terracotta legions that guarded an exterior section of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first man to rule over a unified China (First Emperor and Founder of the Qin Dynasty). After 20 years of careful and painstaking excavation, three underground vaults were officially opened to the public in 1979,1989, and 1994 respectively. Each displayed thousands of terra-cotta warriors, horses, and chariots arranged in battle formations. Since then, the emperor's underground army has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in China.

Beijing City

Beijing is the nation’s most thriving political, economic, cultural and educational center. It is China’s most important center for international trade and communications. Together with Xi’an, Luoyang, Kaifeng, Nanjing and Hangzhou, Beijing is one of the six ancient cities in China. It was the capital in the Yuan (1271 -1368), Ming (1368 -1644) and Qing (1616 -1911) Dynasties.

In Beijing, people can become acquainted with “old Beijing culture” by exploring its many teahouses, temple fairs, and Beijing’s Hutongs (meaning small lanes) and courtyards. The Peking Opera and Beijing snacks are not to be missed, as part of the Beijing experience.

In Beijing, the Forbidden City is one of the first choices of most tourists. It enjoys a reputation as the most significant and best-preserved imperial palace in the world. Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City complex are called Gugong in Chinese.

The palace is surrounded by a six-meter-deep moat and a ten-meter-high wall.

It has 9,999 rooms and a beautiful imperial garden. Lying at the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City was the imperial palace during the Ming (1368 -1644) and Qing (1616-1911) Dynasties.

Besides the Forbidden City, Badaling Great Wall is another place that attracts tourists from all over the world. It is a part of the Great Wall of China which is known as one of the World’s Seven Wonders. The Great Wall is an ancient Chinese fortification built from the end of the 14th century until the beginning of the 17th century during the Ming Dynasty. It starts at the Jiayuguan Pass (嘉峪关) of Gansu Province in the west and ends at the Shanhaiguan Pass (山海关) of Hebei Province in the east stretching about 50,000 kilometers. As one of the World’s Seven Wonders, the Great Wall of China has become the symbol of the Chinese nation and culture. Only when climbing the Great Wall, can people find and feel the power and greatness of the Great Wall.

In Beijing, another good choice for tourists is the Summer Palace. It is China,s leading classical garden which enjoys a worldwide reputation. The Summer Palace was first built in the year of 1153 and served as an imperial palace of the Qing Dynasty for short stays in summer. It is the largest and best-preserved royal garden in the world with its richest cultural heritage and is honored as a museum of royal gardens.

Hangzhou City

Hangzhou was a small fishing village until late in the sixth century, when the extension of the Grand Canal southward from the Yangtze led to the development of a busy commercial center in the town. Hangzhou is the capital city of Zhejiang Province and one of the six ancient cities in China. It is located in northwestern Zhejiang Province on the plain of the mid-lower reaches of Changjiang. 

Although Hangzhou has been through many years of urban development, it still retains its historical and cultural heritage. One of Hangzhou's most popular sights is the West Lake, a site of UNESCO World Heritage. It can be described as a brilliant pearl embedded in the beautiful and fertile shores of the East China Sea near the mouth of the Hangzhou Bay. The lake covers an area of 5. 6 square kilometers. The view of the West Lake offers many attractions for tourists from all over the world, including the Longjing Tea and the Tiger-running Spring. Another famous historical site by the West Lake is the Lingyin Monastery. It is an ancient temple in China. There are also Feilai Peak, Cold Spring, and Longhong Cave. Here are precious rock cave arts and varied natural caves and gullies. Zhang Yimou, a famous filmmaker, directed a modern music drama “Impression of the West Lake,” which displays the unique charm of the West Lake.

Chengdu City

Chengdu is the political, economic and cultural center of Sichuan Province and has a history dating back to more than 2,500 years. It is called the Land of Abundance. This famous scenic region for tourists in Southwest China is characterized by the beautiful scenery and the ancient culture of the Shu Kingdom at the end of the Han Dynasty.

Chengdu is not only famous for its beautiful scenery, long history, and rich cultural attractions, but also for its delicious food and snacks. Chengdu Cuisine includes many famous dishes. The predominant ingredient in the food here is chili. If you think you could handle a Vindaloo curry, then you should try some of Chengdu’s spiciest food, which is laced with chili throughout. For those unaccustomed to spicy food, Sichuan dishes can be hard to handle and should be avoided.

Located in Chengdu, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System is an ancient technological wonder of China. More than 2,000 years ago, Li Bing, a local governor, designed this water control and irrigation dam. He organized thousands of local people to complete a huge and magnificent project. It was built to check the Minjiang River since the river often flooded the agricultural area, bringing local farmers to frequent water disasters. This ancient wonder still works to benefit people today.

The Yellow River

The Yellow River is the second-longest river in China and the fifth-longest in the world with a length of 5,464 km. Originated in the Bayan Har Mountains in Qinghai Province in western China, it flows through nine provinces and pours into the Bohai Sea.

The Yellow River is called the cradle of Chinese civilization because it is thought that the basin is the birthplace of the northern Chinese civilizations. Without a doubt, this is the most prosperous region in early Chinese history. The Yellow River civilization was mainly concentrated in the big plains of the lower Yellow River, which, as we have mentioned earlier, is considered the core area of the ancient Chinese civilization.

Early Chinese literature refers to the Yellow River simply as He, a word that has come to mean simply the “river” in modern language. The first appearance of the name “Yellow River” is in the Book of Han written in the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C. -220). The name “Yellow River” aptly describes the yellow color of the muddy water in the lower course of the river.

The Yangtze River

The Changjiang River, also called the Yangtze River, with a length of about 6,397 kilometers, is the longest river in China as well as in Asia and the third-longest river in the world. Beginning in the Tuotuo River in Qinghai Province, the Changjiang River flows eastward across the interior of China, nearly covering one- fifth of the territory. The basin area of the Changjiang River is one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilization. As the Gold Waterway, a name given to the river, it is a significant transportation line in the south of China.

The Three Gorges, Qutang, Wu, and Xiling, are 192 km in total. The Three Gorges are the most spectacular section of the Changjiang River filled with breathtaking sceneries and rich water resources.

Mount Huangshan

Located in the south of Anhui Province, Mount Huangshan is probably the most famous mountain in China. Wu Yue is the collective name given to China’s five most important mountains, and Mount Huangshan is not a part of the collection. A popular saying relates that you will not want to visit any other mountains after seeing the five mountains (Wu Yue), but you will not wish to see even Wu Yue after returning from Mt. Huangshan. This Chinese saying shares a hint of the beauty and uniqueness of Mount Huangshan.

Mt. Huangshan can boast not only its magnificence but also its abundant resources. Also, it supports a great variety of zoological species, for which it has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site. Mt. Huangshan is famous for the four wonders; strange pines, the absurd stones, the sea of clouds and the hot spring.

Wu Yue (The Five Sacred Mountains)

Yue in Chinese refers to high mountains. Wu Yue is a collective name given to China's Five Sacred Mountains although each has its unique characteristics. They are named according to the cardinal points on the compass. Mt. Taishan in Shandong Province in East China is called Dong Yue (Eastern Sacred Mountain). Mountain Huashan in Shaanxi Province in West China is called Xi Yue (Western Sacred Mountain). North Mountain Hengshan in Shanxi Province in North China is called Bei Yue (Northern Sacred Mountain). Mountain Songshan in Henan Province in Central China is called Zhong Yue (Central Sacred Mountain) and South Mountain Hengshan in Hunan Province in South China is called Nan Yue (Southern Sacred Mountain). The five mountains are known for their differences: Mountain. Taishan for its majesty, Mountain Huashan for its strength, North Mountain Hengshan for its seclusion, Mt. Songshan for its ruggedness and South Mountain Hengshan for its elegance.

Closing Remarks

To summarize the geographical features of China, we must mention all-natural elements. China is dry, and China is wet. China is tropical as well as cold. China includes mountains and lowlands. Each element or feature produces unique local produce or products. Major cities, both ancient and modern, are part of China’s landscape along with famous natural wonders.