China-Geography


 * General Information || Geography || History || Culture || Political System || Economics || Activities || Teacher's Page ||

**Location **



China is on the continent of Asia. More specifically, China is located in what is described as __Eastern Asia.__


 * Bordering Countries **



China is the largest country entirely in Asia. China is bordered by:


 * Korea (to the east)
 * Mongolia (to the north)
 * Russia (to the northeast)
 * Kazakhstan, Kyrgzstan and Tadzhikistan (to the northwest)
 * Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan (to the west and south west)
 * Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam (to the south)

([|China Tourists Maps])

**Natural Topography **

There are many types of terrain in China. They include the following:
 * mountains
 * plateaus
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">sandy deserts
 * <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">dense forests

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">One third of the land is made up of mountains. The Earths's tallest mountain, __Mt Everest__, (pictured on the right) boarders China and Nepal.

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">China's surface slopes down from west to east. The land in the west includes mostly mountains, high plateaus, and deserts. In the east, there are plains, deltas and hills. <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">([|An Introduction to China])




 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 26pt;">Political Map **



__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">Regions __

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">China is divided into 22 provinces (similar to states in U.S.), 5 autonomous regions (free from government's rule), 4 municipalities (area that is self governed or ruled) that are under control of the central government. It also has two special autonomous regions (Hong Kong and Macau) and claims Taiwan as its 23 province. The last three however, are listed as separate countries. ([|Provinces of China])

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">Area __

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">9,596,961 sq km *Slightly smaller than the United States. ([|CIA World Fact Book])

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">Geographic Coordinates __

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">35 00 N, 105 00 E ([|CIA World Fact Book])

__<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 14pt;">Elevation Extremes __ <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">Lowest point: Turpan Pendi -154 m <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">Highest point: Mount Everest 8,850 m ([|CIA World Fact Book])


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 26pt;">Natural Resources **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">China's natural resources include the following minerals: coal, iron ore, petroleum, natural gas, mercury, tin, tungsten, antimony, manganese, molybdenum, vanadium, magnetite, aluminum, lead, zinc, uranium, hydropower potential (world's largest). ([|CIA World Fact Book])


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 26pt;">Population **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">There are over 1 billion people in China; 1,330,141,295. ([|CIA World Fact Book])

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">China is the most populous country in the world. China has about 22% of the world's total population. On average there are about 130 people per square kilometer. However, the population is extremely varied. Along the east coast there are more than 400 people per square kilometer; in the central areas over 200, and in the sparsely populated areas of the west 10. ([|China Travel Guide])


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 26pt;">Climate **

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">China's climate varies from region to region. In the southeastern part of China temperatures remain high all year long. It rains often in this region as well. The southwestern part of China temperatures vary from valley to mountain peek. The central part of China has four distinct seasons. There is lots of sunshine in the northeastern part of China. However, summers in this region are short while winters are long and cold. In the northwestern part of China there is very little rain. Summers are hot and winters are cold **.** <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 11pt;">([|China Travel Guide])