China
Basics - Geography
Tibetan Plateau 4500 meters = feet World’s largest Four times the size of Texas Enhance monsoons Dry out Asia 4500 meters = feet World’s largest Four times the size of Texas Enhance monsoons Dry out Asia
Gobi Desert
Northeast of Tibetan Plateau Fifth largest Rocky not sandy Cold Desertification Northeast of Tibetan Plateau Fifth largest Rocky not sandy Cold Desertification
Taklamakan Desert “Go in and you will never come out” 17th Largest Northwest of Tibetan Plateau Cold “Go in and you will never come out” 17th Largest Northwest of Tibetan Plateau Cold
The Great Wall
Built in sections from 5th through 16th centuries Majority during Ming Dynasty ( ) 5,500 miles Built in sections from 5th through 16th centuries Majority during Ming Dynasty ( ) 5,500 miles
Yellow/Huang He River
2nd longest in China (sixth overall) Loess Flows west to east Little more than 3000 miles 2nd longest in China (sixth overall) Loess Flows west to east Little more than 3000 miles
Yellow/Huang He River Cradle of Chinese civilization “When the Yellow River flows clear” Prone to flooding Hydroelectric dams Cradle of Chinese civilization “When the Yellow River flows clear” Prone to flooding Hydroelectric dams
Yangtze River
Longest in Asia (3rd overall) About 4000 miles Tibetan Plateau to Shanghai Three Gorges Dam (largest hydroelectric) Longest in Asia (3rd overall) About 4000 miles Tibetan Plateau to Shanghai Three Gorges Dam (largest hydroelectric)
Yangtze River Delta 40% of China’s GDP $2 Trillion East China Sea Urban expansion 40% of China’s GDP $2 Trillion East China Sea Urban expansion
Pearl River
Third longest in China About 1400 miles One of the most polluted in the world Guangzhou Third longest in China About 1400 miles One of the most polluted in the world Guangzhou
Beijing Peking Capitol of PRC Political, educational, and cultural center Means “Northern Capitol” Peking Capitol of PRC Political, educational, and cultural center Means “Northern Capitol”
Beijing Railway Station
Nanjing
Also Nanking Means “Southern capitol” Yangtze River Delta Economic center Also Nanking Means “Southern capitol” Yangtze River Delta Economic center