Geography of China

Land and Climate China is located in eastern Asia with an area of 3,705,820 square miles and extends across five time zones (although Beijing time is used). China is roughly the same size as the United States and is divided into provinces.

Geography Cont. Mountains or deserts cover much of western China, therefore the majority of the population lives in the east, where rivers and plains allow for productive agriculture. The largest city in China is Shanghai, with a population of 14,173,000. China’s total population is 1.26 billion people, making it the world’s most populous country.

China’s other major geographic features differ between regions, ranging from the Himalaya Mountains to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau to subtropical islands. The Yangtze River is the longest at 3,915 miles (3rd largest in the world).

Climate China’s climate ranges from sub-arctic in the north to sub-tropical in the south. Temperatures range anywhere from 120 degrees in Xinjiang in the Taklamakan Desert to minus 40 degrees near the Mongolian Plateau. Monsoons in the southeast cause frequent summer floods and sandstorms in the north are increasing due to desertification. The southwest is the home of bamboo forests and has a much more agreeable climate.

China’s diverse plant life includes more than 2,800 species of trees, such as bamboo, palm, oak, China fir, evergreen, and Chinese Cypress. Deforestation is an increasing problem in the east due to housing developments and industries.

Using the maps, label the following on your China map: Beijing Hong Kong Shanghai Jiangsu Province Himalaya Mountains Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Taklamakan Desert Yangtze River Great Plain of China