China Geography

Population 1.3 billion people (most populated in world) 1 out of 5 people in the world are Chinese 95% are Han (ethnic Chinese)

Physical Map

The majority of China consists of mountains and deserts In ancient times, these physical barriers limited contact with others (cultural diversity) The Chinese thought they lived at the center of the Earth= (ethnocentric) Today, most people still live in the eastern 1/3 of China where the land is arable (OK for farming)

Population Density

Terracing What?: small, flat fields built into the sides of mountains Why?: create more farmland, holds soil in place in order to plant crops Where?: sides of hills and mountains

Terracing

Physical Map

Rivers Huang He River - also called Yellow River because of loess - loess: yellow brown soil that is carried by winds into the river - River of Sorrow: floods cause great destruction

Huang He River (Yellow River)

Rivers Chang River (aka Yangzi) - important for trade - many important ports and dams - for example: City of Shanghai-

Chang River (Yangzi) City of Shanghai 3 Gorges Dam

Rivers Xi River (aka West River) - found in South China - major trade route to Guangzhou - Xi River Delta: millions of Chinese live here because of good soil and warm climate

Xi River (West River)

Cities of China

North China Climate- warm/hot summers and cold winters, rain varies Crops- wheat and millet (small type of grain) Cities- Beijing (capital) and Tianjin

North China

South China Climate- mild/humid (closer to equator) Crops- rice, cotton, tea, and vegetables River Valleys- people pack into these to grow crops Cities- Guangzhou, Shanghai