Chinese Geographical Regions How are the regions of China different in terms of population, climate and geographic landforms?

Urban and rural population of China from 2006 to 2016 (in million inhabitants) https://www.statista.com/statistics/278566/urban-and-rural-population-of-china/ Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics/278566/urban-and-rural-population-of-china/

North China Landforms Climate North China Plain Huang He (Yellow River) Loess Climate Warm, hot summers Cold winters (snow) Similar to northeastern US Unpredictable rainfall

North China Cont. Land Use/ Resources Interesting Fact Farming of wheat and millet Manufacturing Center Interesting Fact Urban centers include Beijing (capital) and Tianjin Combined with South China, known as the “heartland”

South China Landforms Climate Chang Jiang (Yangtze River) Three Gorges Dam Xi Jiang (West River) Climate Tropical wet/ Tropical wet-dry Warm, humid climate High rainfall

Three Gorges Dam Started Dec. 1994; Dam completed in 2008; fully operational with ship locks by 2011; last 2 turbines installed May 2012. Largest hydroelectric power station and dam in world by capacity with 26 generators Estimated cost of $39 billion Displaced 1.3 million people Benefits versus Problems?

South China Cont. Land Use/ Resources Interesting Facts Rice producing region Cotton, tea, vegetables and other crops Industrial urban areas Shanghai “Heartland of China” Interesting Facts Hilly terrain results in terracing High population in valleys and lake regions 11 month growing season.

Northeast China (Manchuria) Landforms Medium to high elevation Climate Cool to cold Land Use/ Resources Limited farming and forestry Resource- Rich Region coal, iron-ore, oil, minerals

Northeast China (Manchuria) Cont. Interesting Facts Sparsely populated; government encouraged migration into region Home to ethnic Manchurian people

Inner Mongolia/ Mongolia Landforms Gobi Desert Dust storms Climate Hot, dry summers Bitter, cold winters Low precipitation Land Use/ Resources Nomadic herding  travel from place to place to find fresh pasture for their livestock Very limited agriculture

Mongolia Population 3 million Least densely populated country in world (4 ppl/sq. mi.) Republic; led by president Per capita GDP $2,100 Home to Mongols Independent from China in 1921. 13 paved runways in the nations. Capital: Ulaanbaatar

Xinjiang Landforms Climate Land Use/ Resources Interesting Facts Taklimakan Desert Mountains/ Plateaus Climate Low precipitation Highlands and desert Land Use/ Resources Oil producing region Limited nomadic herding and farming Much is uninhabited Interesting Facts Home to many non-Chinese minorities Linked by railroad Much of China’s Muslim minority are located in this region.

Tibet (Xizang) Landforms Climate Land Use/ Resources Plateau of Tibet Mountains Himalayans, Kunlun Shan Climate Highland; cold winters and cool summers Low rainfall; Snow in mountains Land Use/ Resources Much is barren and treeless Nomadic herding and farming in valleys

Tibet Cont. Interesting Facts Yaks (as important to Tibetans as buffalo were to Native Americans) and Yurts (tent-like structures in which Tibetans live) Prior to the 1950 Chinese invasion, Tibet was independent and self-ruled. Now it is an Autonomous Region. Home to Tibetan Buddhism and Dalai Lama Yurts: http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/yurt/

Is Tibet free? An introduction to Tibet https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLvSIXHLrQ (9:31)

Hong Kong and Taiwan? Hong Kong Part of China since 1997 (British from 1842-1997) Special Administrative Region Own legislature Permitted market economy Densely populated islands Center of trade, banking, manufacturing of textiles and clothing Per Capita GDP $43,681 USD (2016)

Hong Kong and Taiwan? Taiwan Island with 22.5 million people; population density very high Independent government with elected president Among top 10 world exporters of electronics, chemicals, textiles, iron and steel China defines Taiwan as one of its provinces Per capita GDP $39,600 (2013 est.)