China: Geographic Setting

Land & People 1.35 billion people live in China 1.35 billion people live in China They are packed into Eastern China They are packed into Eastern China Why? Why? –80% of the land is rugged and mountainous –20% of the land is flat 1/2 of the land is arable, good for farming 1/2 of the land is arable, good for farming –Most people still farmers Many natural barriers: plateaus, deserts, mountains Many natural barriers: plateaus, deserts, mountains

The People 92% of the people in China are ethnic Chinese or Han 92% of the people in China are ethnic Chinese or Han Other ethnic groups live in remote regions Other ethnic groups live in remote regions –Mongols –Tibetans –Uyghur Mandarin is the official government language, 1000s dialects Mandarin is the official government language, 1000s dialects

Regions of China 6 major Regions 6 major Regions The Heartland – North & South The Heartland – North & South –From Beijing in the north to the border with Vietnam The Northeast – Manchuria The Northeast – Manchuria Mongolia Mongolia Xinjiang – pronounced (sheen jee ahng) Xinjiang – pronounced (sheen jee ahng) Xizang – pronounced (shee dzahng) Xizang – pronounced (shee dzahng)

The Heartland

North China Part of Chinese Heartland Part of Chinese Heartland Warm or hot summers Warm or hot summers Cold winters Cold winters Rainfall varies Rainfall varies Crops: wheat & millet Crops: wheat & millet Cities: Beijing (capital), Tianjin: manufacturing Cities: Beijing (capital), Tianjin: manufacturing Rivers: Huang He or River of Sorrow or Yellow River (same river) Page 326 Rivers: Huang He or River of Sorrow or Yellow River (same river) Page 326 Lots of people Lots of people

Terraced Farm

Beijing (capital)

Heavy air pollution has resulted in widespread smog.

Beijing Financial Street, the economic center of Beijing Urban Boom - Downloaded Video Urban BoomVideo Urban Boom from China Revealed Discovery Education Discovery Atlas: China Revealed

Wangfujing Street is one of the busiest streets in Beijing, with nearly 100,000 visitors daily

South China Part of Chinese Heartland Part of Chinese Heartland North and South separated by Chang River North and South separated by Chang River Richer farming and industrial region than North China Richer farming and industrial region than North China –Xi River Delta Mild Humid Climate Mild Humid Climate Crops: rice, cotton, tea, and vegetables Crops: rice, cotton, tea, and vegetables Lots of People packed around farmlands in river valleys and lakes Lots of People packed around farmlands in river valleys and lakes

Shenzhen: major city South China

Northeast

Northeast Once Manchuria Once Manchuria Cold Climate Cold Climate Sparsely populated Sparsely populated –Government incentives to attract people to the region Government working to develop region’s mineral resources Government working to develop region’s mineral resources –oil, iron, aluminum ore, coal, lead, zinc

Mongolia Gobi Desert: harsh climate Gobi Desert: harsh climate Hot summers and cold winters Hot summers and cold winters Part independent Part independent Try to promote irrigation and farming Try to promote irrigation and farming Mongolian Culture Video from China Revealed Discovery Education - Video Mongolian Culture Video from China Revealed Discovery Education - Video Mongolian Culture Video Mongolian Culture Video Discovery Atlas: China Revealed

Mongolia

Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, China. A view overlooking the city square from my Hotel.

Xinjiang

Xinjiang Desert Basin Desert Basin Oil producing region Oil producing region Linked by railroads Linked by railroads Produce cotton and wheat with irrigation Produce cotton and wheat with irrigation Home to non-Chinese people Home to non-Chinese people

Uyghur Muslim Non- Chinese people of the Zinjiang Region

Ürümqi is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country.

Xizang Tibet Tibet Sits in the Himalayas Sits in the Himalayas Barren and treeless farming possible in valleys Barren and treeless farming possible in valleys Chinese took over Tibet in 1950 Chinese took over Tibet in 1950 Tried to develop hydroelectric power Tried to develop hydroelectric power

1. Why did Chinese call land Zhongguo? Believed China center of civilization Believed China center of civilization –Middle Kingdom China was located too far from other countries, it was surrounded by natural boundaries and barriers China was located too far from other countries, it was surrounded by natural boundaries and barriers –Gobi Desert, Mongolian and Tibetan Plateaus, Himalayas, and Rainforests

2. What is the Chinese heartland? North and South China North and South China Most people live there because it is suitable for farming Most people live there because it is suitable for farming

3. What are the 3 main rivers of China? Huang He: Yellow River, River of Sorrow Huang He: Yellow River, River of Sorrow Chang: Yangzi – 3 rd longest Chang: Yangzi – 3 rd longest –China’s 3 Gorges Dam 2012 China’s 3 Gorges DamChina’s 3 Gorges Dam –National Geographic 3 Gorges Dam National Geographic 3 Gorges DamNational Geographic 3 Gorges Dam Xi: trade route in South Xi: trade route in South All important for trade and farming All important for trade and farming

4. What geographic feature lies between independent Mongolia and Chinese Mongolia? Gobi Desert Gobi Desert