1. Geographic Settings of China Chapter 15 Section 1 Pages 323-327 By: Shanna N.

2. Basics China was thought to be the center of the Earth Covers a huge area of Asia & is one of the largest nations in the world Physical barriers include the Gobi Desert, the Mongolian & Tibetan plateaus, & the Himalaya Mountains (largest in the world) Mountains & rain forests separate China from Southeast Asia

3. These physical barriers limited contact with other civilizations in the early ages but still continued: –Trading goods to India & Middle East countries –Buddhism carried to China –Invaders coming and spreading ideas & technologies

4. Home to 1.2 billion people (1/5 of the worlds population today) but most Chinese crowd to the eastern third of the country WHY?? Mountains & plateaus cover over 80% of China Many people are farmers so they need fertile soil to grow their crops which in China there is only 10% of good farming land People have built into hills & mountains because of limited land for farming

5. Regions Six main regions 2 of the 6 regions lay in the Chinese heartland which is North & South China –home to China’s 1 st civilization The 4 other regions include the Northwest, Mongolia, Xinjiang & Xizang

7. North & South China (the heartland) North China Has warm summers & cold winters Has warm summers & cold winters Unpredictable rainfall Unpredictable rainfall Main crops are wheat & millet Main crops are wheat & millet Main cities are the capital Beijing & Tianjin Main cities are the capital Beijing & Tianjin South China Richer in farming & industry growing Richer in farming & industry growing Grows rice, cotton, tea, vegetables & other crops Grows rice, cotton, tea, vegetables & other crops People are packed into farmlands near bodies of water People are packed into farmlands near bodies of water

8. The Northeast & Mongolia Northeast Was known as Manchuria where they conquered China in the 1600s Government is developing many new resources Due to cold climate, population is very small Mongolia Harsh climate Summers are particularly hot & winters are very cold Government is working on improving irrigation, which will promote farming

9. Xinjiang & Xizang Xinjiang  Oil-producing region  May start producing wheat & cotton  Home to Muslim Uighurs, Kazakhs, & Kyrgyz Xizang  Known as Tibet  Region is along the Himalayas where it is barren & treeless  Developing hydroelectric power  Rich in minerals

10. Rivers 3 main rivers include the Huang He, Chang, & Xi Rivers Millions of Chinese work on river valleys risking flooding but technology has helped by building dikes and canals

11. Huang He River A.K.A. the Yellow River due to it emptying into the Yellow Sea & from its yellow-brown soil called loess from which the wind carries across the North China Plain Floods frequently due to loess clogging the riverbed & heavy rains The only advantage of flooding is the end result of the fertile soil after it dries

12. Chang River Also known as the Yangzi which carries most of China’s trade Busiest port city is Shanghai Government debates over hydroelectric power worrying that there will be so much power which can harm the environment and cause flooding ensuing 1 million people to move out of their homes

13. Xi River Or known as the West River flowing through South China Or known as the West River flowing through South China Major port is Guangzhou which ships goods to all over the world Major port is Guangzhou which ships goods to all over the world Tens of millions of Chinese live in Xi delta for its ample water, good climate, & excellent soil Tens of millions of Chinese live in Xi delta for its ample water, good climate, & excellent soil

14. People 95% of the people are Han (ethnic Chinese) Minorities are the Mongols, Tibetans, & Tajiks Everyone speaks different forms or dialects of Chinese Official language = Mandarian

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