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China: The Land Chapter 23 / Section 1 China Compared to Other Countries Location & Size • China is located in East Asia • It is the world’s 3rd largest country in terms of size (after Russia and Canada) • It covers more than 3,600,930 sq miles Landforms Landforms 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Mountains Plateaus Deserts Plains Highlands 1) Mountains • Cover 1/3 of China • The are located in the western part of the country • The Himalaya Mountains (“Abode of Snow”) are the largest & most famous (located on the border b/w China & Nepal) The Himalaya Mountains 2) Plateaus • In the center of China’s mountainous area (in the western part of the country) • The Plateau of Tibet is the largest plateau of the world (“Roof of the World” = 13,000 feet high) • Vegetation: shrubs & grasses Plateau of Tibet 3) Deserts • Mountain ranges circle desert basins • Two famous deserts: a) Taklimakan Desert: in the west; extremely high temperatures, sandstorms & dunes b) Gobi Desert: in the east; large difference b/w daytime & nighttime temperatures (140 F); e.g. day = 110F; night = -30 F Taklimakan Desert Sandstorm from Taklimakan Gobi Desert 4) Coastal Plains • Located along the coasts of the East China and South China Seas • They have fertile lands agriculture • 90% of China’s population lives on the plains Coastal Plains continued… Two major coastal plains: 1) Northeast Plain: in the Manchuria region of northeast China 1) North China Plain: south of the Northeast Plain Northeast Plain (Manchuria) North China Plain 5) Highlands • Located mostly in the southeast • Limestone hills that rise 100-600 feet • One of China’s most scenic areas tourism Scenic Highland Bodies of Water Four major rivers: 1) Huang He (Hwahng Huh) 2) Chang Jiang (Chahng Jee-ang) 3) Xi (Shee) 4) Mekong River Importance: a) Transportation routes b) Source of soil 1) Huang He = Yellow River • Located in the center of the country (flows from west to east & empties into the Yellow Sea) • It is called “yellow” b/c it carries a yellowish-gray soil, called loess • The river basin is rich in fertile loess excellent farming area • Prone to flooding (“China’s sorrow”) Huang He = The Yellow River 2) Chang Jiang = Yangtze River • Located in the southern part of the country • Flows west to east & empties into the East China Sea • Also prone to flooding dams to control flooding & harvest hydroelectric power • 1994-2008: Three Gorges Dam (the world’s largest construction project) Chang Jiang = The Yangtze River Three Gorges Dam Climate • Due to its enormous size, China has a number of different climate regions • They are affected by location, elevation, and wind currents Climate Regions: 1) Highland: in the Himalaya Mountains and on the Plateau of Tibet - Cold temperatures year-round - Influenced by elevation 2) Desert: in the Taklimakan and Gobi Deserts - Hot during the day, cold during the night year-round - Hardly any rainfall - Influenced by location & elevation Climate Regions continued… 3) Humid Continental: on the Northeast Plain and North china Plain - Four seasons - Cold winters, warm summers 4) Humid Subtropical: on the highlands of the south - Short, mild winters and long, humid, hot summers - Influenced by location (close to the tropics) Monsoons & Typhoons 1) Monsoons: a) In the winter: cold, dry air from central Asia across China b) In the summer: warm, moist air from the Pacific Ocean 2) Typhoons: - Brought on by the monsoons in the summer - Tropical storms w/ strong winds & heavy rains - They are called hurricanes when they are formed over the Atlantic Ocean Monsoons Typhoon The Economy • China is a developing, rural country • Its main economic activities are farming and industry • Farming is more important than industry, though, because ~ 60% of China’s people make their living from farming • Its industry is growing: if you take all products and services that China produces each year, it is in the top 10 countries in the world Type of Economy • China has been an “officially” communist country since 1949, when the communists, led by Mao Zedong, overthrew the nationalist government of Chiang Kai-shek • In reality, China is increasingly moving toward a capitalist (free enterprise) economy • Why? - Wants to become a modern, industrialized nation - Wants to continue to trade w/ the US & W. Europe Problems with Industrialization Environmental problems: due to factory smoke - Pollution of rivers: endangers species - Pollution of air: acid rain destroys plants & building; breathing problems - Displacement of people, farmlands, villages, and canyons (Three Gorges Dam) Economic/Social Problems: - Inflation (prices go up but not the paychecks) - Income gap: the rich is getting richer, while the poor is getting poorer Economic Regions 1) The North: plains & highlands of NE China • Manufacturing: textiles, chemicals, electronic equipment, farming machinery, airplane parts, metal products - Major industrial center: Beijing • Mining: coal, petroleum, iron ore, tungsten (metal used in electronics) • Farming: wheat, cotton, soy beans • Fishing 2) South: southeast China • Fertile soil, humid climate, long growing season • Growing crops on terraced fields: strips of land cut out of a hillside like stair steps • Tea, jute, silk, fruits, and vegetables • Mineral resources: bauxite, iron ore, tin • Urban manufacturing centers: Wuhan, Guangzhou • Ships, machinery, textiles, electrical equipment 3) The West • Mountains, deserts, and grasslands • Most of it is not suitable for farming • Only grazing of livestock that can handle the harsh conditions, e.g. yaks • Low-lying areas: cotton & wheat • Mineral resources: petroleum, coal, & iron ore The People • • • • Capital: Beijing Population: 1.3 billion Language: Mandarin Chinese Religion: Confucianism (philosophy), Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity • Ethnicities: 94% Han Chinese • Type of Government: Communist - Used to have dynasties (power was handed down to family members from one generation to the next) • Rural: only 30% live in cities • Calligraphy: the art of beautiful writing (Chinese writing uses characters that express words/ideas instead of sounds 50,000 characters, only 8,000 is recognized by an average person) • Pagodas: Buddhist temples w/ several floors • Inventions: paper, ink, clock, compass, printed book, fireworks, gunpowder, porcelain (made of coal dust and white clay), etc.