CHINA

1. LOCATION ANI> EX'l'l•:N·f I, A11l111i 139.9 Hefoi

I Im< 11111,1 , nll11 1,dly l 1111w11 ,t. tl11 l', ·11ph •, 2. I 1q1:111 123. l Fuzhou
Kc:puhli\i 11I c 1111111 1·, 111w 111 till' 11111•.I 1111po1 t:1111 I ( i:tll}','ill 366. 5 Lanzhou
~ounlric• ul I ,, ,I /\ijlit, It 110•, hclw1·1 •11 I. I'' 11 :111d 4 <)1m11gdong 197.1 Guangzhou
t\" ~' N l,11i111d~i.. and / 11'1 I•. ,11111 I l'l'' I·. ;>, <,:ii:tho11 174.0 Guiyang
111111:ti111dc· 11c1•11pyi11g ~111 :111·:i ol 'J'i ')8 laklt <>. l lai11a11 14.3 Haikou
,,q,k,11, whil:h i~ 1.:q11:il lo ;tlJllttl 7 0 Jl<'I t 1·111 ol 7 I lt:bl.!1 202.7 Shijizhuang
the i:artlt' 1 ,Ill l:11,;c. Ai.:~t11dlll/' ICI ,tll':t <'11111,1 l1c,ld•, 8. 1lctlongj i:rng 463.6 Haerbin
third pl,,cc alter Russi., :111d ( a11ad,1 'I lit la11d 9. l lc11a11 167,0 Zhengzhou
ft1111tk1 ol Chi1111 is ohuut: I tl1lllt',a11d k111. <'hi11a 10. l luhci I 87.5 Wuhan
111 ho11k11·d hy 1(115:,1ia a11d Mu11gol1a ir, lltl' 111>1lh; 11. Jiangsu 164.8 Nanjing
Ko11.:a, l.1p;111 Sl'a and Eai.,I <'l111w Sea i11 Ille La:,1
12. Jilin 187.0 Changchun
: India, Nl•p;il, Blt11la11, Mya11111ar, l ,na'{, :111d
13. Liaoning 151.0 Shenyang
V1l•t11:1111 in the MHtlh; and l'aki'-.tan, J\lglla11bta11
14. Qinghai 721.0 Xining
'1:ijikh,ta11, Ki1gizsta11 and l<,m1khi.,ta11 in tilt: west.
China ll,1s about 14.000 kill long cuai.,t line. 15. Shannxi 195.8 Xian
16. Shandong 153.3 Jinan
'I he l{cpuhlil: ol <'hi11a wa~ C!,tabli~lw<l in
J M'> and its 11amc 'China' is probably derived
1 l 7. Shanxi 157.1 Taiyuan
from the uncic11t Chin dynasty (221-206 B.C.) 18. Sichuan 487.0 Chengdu
whkh first unified the nation. The total population 19. Yunnan 436.2 Kunming
of Chi11a (2011) is about 1348 111illio11 with a 20. Zhejiang IO 1.8 Hangzhou
density ol 144 pcrsrn1s per sq. kill. There is three (B) Government Controlled Municipalities
level systc111s ol political administration. China is I. Beijing 16.8 Beijing
divided into 22 prov111cc'.'.. i11clu<li11g I long Kong 2. Changqing 82.0 Changqing
a11d 'Iaiwa11, <; autono111011,; states and 4 centrally 3. Shanghai 6.2 Shanghai
governed \ Jrhan Areas. ·1 he administrative divisions 4. Tianjin 11.3 Tianjin
arc illustrated in Tahlc I0.1.
(C) Autonomous Regions
Tahlc 10.J Nanning
I. Guangxi Zhuang 220.4
Adrninistndive Divisions of China with 2. Inner Mongolia 1,77.5 Hohhot
Arcu and Cupital Lhasa
3. Tibet 1221.6
Province/ Arca Capital 4. Xinjiang Uighur 1,646.9 Urumqi
l{e1ion/ (thousand 5. Ningxia Hui 66.4 Yinchuan
City s<1,km).
Source : The Statesman's Yearbook, 2011,
(A) Provinces Macmillan, New York.
 ' East China Sea

Ta:wan

ang Sar

South China P 500 1000

Ha nan
0 Sea -------
l{l;ometres

/ Fig. IO.t : Political Divisions of China.

/ 2. PHYGIOGAPHY (a) The Himalayas run to th~ south-east
The Physiography of China may be from the Pamir Knot and lie along the southern
described roughl~ as forming tliree levels of frontier of China. The Hi111ala) an range fonns
l!lcvarion : the plains. plateaus and mountain::i. the ph) sical and political barrier between China
which rise like steps from the IO\\ lands along and India. These are the higest mountains of the
the east coast to the high mountains in the \\est. world. Everst, the highest peak (8848 m) of the
China can be divided into the following world lies in the Greater Himala) an range. These
physiographic regions : mountains are ) oung folded mountains.
(I) The Mountain Ranges (b) The Kunlun mountain range extends
eastward from the Pamir Knot and passes into
(2) The Plateaus. and
Tsinglingshan mountains in the east. The Kunlun
(3) The Allll\ ial Plains.
mountain lies in the north of Himalayas. Altyn
(l) The .Mountain Ranges Tagh (Aslin Tagh). a branch of Kunlun runs
Various mountain ranges are found in the eastward and e:-,;1ends further eastward ;nto
western part of China which radiate from the Nanshan mountains.
Pamir Knot towards south-east, east and n011h- .(c) The Tienshan moum.1in ranges extend
east. Important mountain ranges of China are north-eastward from Pamir Knot and further run
the Himalayas, the Kunlun, the Tienshan etc. as Peishan (northern mountains of China). Fur· 11er
China
north tllcse ranges extend in "est-east direction
and include Altai. Suyan. and Khingan mountains
Manchuria and Shantung penisula in the Nonh~
East China have also highlands.
(2) The Plateaus
Chinese plateaus arc like basins between the
mountain ranges. Plateaus are found m the
western part of the country. Most important
plateaus of China are the Tibetan plateau, the
Tarim basin, the lsaidam basin, the Dzunganan
basin, and Gobi plateau.
(a) The Tibttan plateau lies bel\veen Kunlun
mountains in the north and the Himalayas in the
south. Its elevation is more than 4000 metres. It
is known as the roof of the world.
(b) The Tarim basin is situated between
the Tienshan mountains in the north and Kunlun
mountains in the south.
(c) The Tsaidam basin lies between the
Astin Tagh (Altyn Tagh) and Nanshan mountains
in the north and the Tienshan mountain in the
south.
(d) The Dzungarian basin is situated
between the Altai mountains in the north and the
Tienshan mountains in the south.
(e) The Gobi plateau is situated to the north-
east of Tarim basin and Dzungarian basin. It is
bordered b) the Khingan mountains to the east.
(3) The Alluvial Plains
Eastern part of China is covered by alluvial
plains. TI1ese plains are situated to the east of
plateaus and mountainous country. Plains of China
include the Hwang Ho plain, the Yangtze Kiang
plain, Sikiang plain and Sungari plain.
(a) The Hwang Ho Plain : In northern
China, H\\ang Ho Valley is a vast plain which
covers over 75,000 sq. km. area. It is drained
by the Hwang Ho and its tributary rivers. It is an
alluvial plain and has mostly yellow silt brought
by the rivers coming from the loess region in the
west. It is also knm\ n as Yellow Plain and slopes
eastward.
(b) The Yangtze Kiang Plain : This Plain
lies to the south of the H\\ ang Ho Plain and is
about double in size of that of Hwang Ho Plain.
1t is built of alluvium deposited by the Yangatze
River and its tributaries. fhe Plain has east\liard
slope. Flo\, ing eastwards. the Yangtze makes the
delta along eastern sea coast. It is a most fertile
agricultural region.
(c) The Sikiang Plain: This plain is located
in the south-eastern part of Chma. It hes to the
south of the Yangtze Kiang plain and 1s smaller
than the Yangtze plam and Hwang Ho plam. It is
also a fertile auuvial plain.
(d) The Sungari and the Liao Plains are
situated in the central Manchuria lying m north-
south direction as a narrow belt. These are also
alluvial plains.
3.DRAINAGE
The major drainage systems of China include
: (i) Pacific Ocean system, (2) Indian Ocean
system, and {B) Inland drainage system :
(1) Pacific Ocean System
It includes the river systems of Hwang Ho
(Yellow river), Yangtze Kiang. Sikiang (Zhu
Jhiang), and Amur. These rhers discharge their
waters in the Pacific Ocean. Following are the
major river systems that belong Pacific Ocean :
(a) Hwang Ho River : This river originates
from the Kunlun mountains. Passmg through
Ordos plateau and obtaining a norther!) loop-like
route it drains into Gulf of Chihli (Yello,, Sea)
Having a length of about 4900 km., it is the
most important river of northern China. The river
is also known as Yellow River The Hwang Ho
brings heavy floods during rain) season \\hich
cause heavy loss of life. crops and other
properties. So that it is also known as Sorrow of
China Wei Ho and Fen Ho are its major
tributaries.
(b) Yangtze (ChangJiang) River : Yangtze
is the largest river of China. It originates in the
Tibet plateau and flows from north to south in
mountainous region and then it mo-.·es towards
the east and ultimately meets the East China Sea.
The river is about 5560 km. long and is navigable
for nearby 1600 km. from its mouth to
Hangchov.. Main tributaries of Yangtze are Han,
Kan. Min, Chaling and Siang. The Yangtze river
 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,·runa n
---
Trenshan Mt ~ - - - ._
Brahmapu1ra R
Fig.- I0.2 : China : Relief and Drainage.
flows from west to east through the central parts
of China.
(c) Sikiang (Zhu Jiang) Ri\'er : Sikiang is
the principal river of southern China. It rises
from the plateaus of South-East China. Crossing
through mountains and rough terrains it meets in
the South China Sea. The river is navigable from
its mouth to Wuchow. This river is smaller than
Hwang Ho and Yangtze Kiang.
(d) The Liao and Sungari Rivers : These
rivers are upper branches of the Amur river which
terminates in the Northern Pacific Ocean. These
rivers flows through the central part of
Manchuria in south-north direction lo meet Amur
river in the north. The drainage area of these
r;vers is relatively very small.
(2) Indian Ocean System
The upper Brahmaputra (the Yalu Zangbo)
and upper Salween (Nu Jiang) are two major
5'" IUI v (I-,
I -
'✓
'
China Sea
rivers which drain into Indian Ocean. These rivers
flows in the southern frontier region of Tibet.
(3) Inland Drainage
The rivers of western Chinese plateau
regions have inland drainage. Inland drainage
basins are the characteristics of the western
plateaus. The rivers of northern Tibet, Sinkiang
and Inner Mongolia provinces have inland drainage
basins. These streams are intermittent which end
into playas or salty swamps. Tarim basin is one
of the most significant inland or interior drainage
basins of China.
4.CLIMATE
Being a country of enormous areal extent,
China experiences a great variety of climate. The
impact of latitudinal extent, distance from the
sea, topography and the monsoon on the climate
of China is quite evident. The monsoon of China
is divided into two types : summer monsoon and
 ( 1,111(1 .: 259

CHINA
.,, ... \
Winter Temperature
(January) ' .. .... -.- \ ,,. '
"
,;
I I
I ,,
J ,

.,, I '
I I -15°
I Ll ' I
I

\,_,, ___ _ 1 )f
../..,.
I
f -.
O'·
"
I,
I
( \
,, 5"
-10° ,.,,-, ~I
,,
,,
I /
J

I
-5·
10°
a
,....-...__ Isotherms
15°
(in °C)
0
Fig.-10.3 : China : Distribution of Winter Temperature.

winter monsoon. Most parts of China lie in the
temperate mid-latitude climatic zone.
(1) Temperatur e
The temperatures in China are largely
decided by the location of a place in respect of
the Pacific Ocean and the altitude. In general,
the temperatures decrease from south to north.
In winter (January) the average temperatures are
below freezing point throughout the north and
west China and rise steadily southward to an
average of 5° C at Wuhan to 16° C at Guangzhou.
Winter is severe and temperatures in the north
are low because this region is exposed to cold
winter winds coming from Siberia during the
winter season. January is the coldest month and
large parts of China lie between the isotherm of
-10° C and -16° C. From north to the Yangtze
Kiang basin winter temperatures are below
freezing point. Even in the Sikiang basin,
temperature reaches freezing point.
Summers are hot all over China and July is
the hottest month. During summer large pans of
China lie between the isotherm of21 °C and 32°C.
The average temperatures in Jul)' are abm,e :0°c
in most of China and decreases to,,ards the
western highlands. The annual range of
temperature increases from 9°C in the extreme
south (Hainan province) to more than ~°C in
the northern Manchuria.
(2) Rainfall
In China most of the rainfall occur during
summer season. The summer monsoon arri, es
in the second half of June or first \\eek of Jul).
The average annual rainfal decreases markedl:
from south-east to north-west. It decreases from
200 cm. along the south-eastern coast to -5 cm
in the Central China (Huai Ri,er Valle)). i\orthem
China usually receives less than 50 cm. rainfa,:.
In western China, in parts of Taki a Makan. Gobi
and Ordas deserts, the annual rainfall is
 --'
CHINA ''
Summer Temperature '' \ .,., I

(July l , I
I
\
I

I
2t)•
, '- I
I
I
(_
I - ' l
I

( - .,
J \

30•
' ~

25• _- ,
I 3~•
r
.,
(7
20• I
r -
,., '\,

I'

--...__ Isotherms t.. 30•

(1n "C)
25°
Fi~. 10.4: China: Distribution of Summer Temper..llure.
e\pcrienced as little ns 10 cm. In the \\estem
Inner ~1on!!oli:i. KJmu and Tarim Bas111. the
annual rainfall i-.; IO em because the southern
airmass becomes vcf) feeble reaching in these
regions. On the Tibet Plateau. the rainfall
decreases from south-east to north-\\ est. In the
south-eastern part of China. tropical cyclones
local!) calkd Typhoons are terrible rhenomena
,~hich :mi,e 11i1h hea,) rainfall.
(3) Climatic Regions
According to variations in climate. China
may be classified in following climatic regions:
(i) Monsoon Region : South-eastern pa,1
of China experiences monsoon climate. Genera II)
there are three seasons in the monsoon lands :
(a) ,,inler -;;ea-;on. (h) summer sen . . nn. and (c)
rc11n) season.
(ii) Plateau Cool Climatic Region : This
(J
This is nlso kno\\n as .\lt.11 t,pe clim:ittl' re,, :i.
0
It cmers the Altai nwuntnms. and neighl\): ·...,.
arens. In this region temp~rature dn-;~t'S 11 _:
altitude.
(h) Steppe Clim:itic Region : It is 3 I\':\'
of di') continental cltmate and e\tends OWfu'!".\.
,,est Chinn. The region has :rnnu,11 minfall 1~
than ~5 cm. and is characteriSl'd b, sm.111 grlS$,>:i.
bushe-; and thorn) des_.n ,eget:uwn.
(,) East Chin11 Clinrntic Region : This ·j
humid sub-tropic.11 regfon \\h1,'h hl') l ~ !
tr,msition zone bel\\een the \\,mn chmatt' 1 '
south nm! colJ cl1m,11e in the lll111h. 1111s n·g1i'l
e.eneralh ha, e hot ;rnd humid stmHlll'IS Jrtd m,,J
~,·inter:;_- l'he ,l\ cr,1ge ,1111111;11 rainfall r,rnf,~
bel\\ecn :iO cm ,llld 150 cm .
111
(, i) l\l:rnchuri:in Cli111,1tk Region : ~:
climatic rc, i0n 1s d1.1r.1cteriscd h) Ion~suntlll•
1

• ::-_ , • . .,, 1ll ~,h:llJi

type of climate is experienced in the Tibet and
Pamir plateaus. 1 his climate is characterised b)
short summer, long ,rnd cold winter.
(iii) Mountain Cool Climatil' Rc~ion :
hu1111d l'Ont1tk'llt,1I cl11nate. l ht~ l'l ::-1l , .,
• ) sunu11•
o,w north-l'.lSh.'nl Chin.1 (~la11chu 11,1 •. ,tJ
• I 'I• illll'f ,~ l'\
tc~tpcr.tlllrl'S ICllhllll l11gh ".ll l ~.;,·c. ,\ 11111 11
\\ 1th :i1t·r.1gc ll'lllpC1~1tu1c lll,nl) ·

I
 _ :2~61
_ _ _ _ _ ___::~
c111_na_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CHINA ,, , .,,,. '

Annual Rainfall 'I \
"ti
( \ ,. .... '
,~·~"
~.~,{:.:::·:·~"
\ ...... J
l
/-,•,•,•,•,•,•,, ,·.•
( ,i,,,•,•.•.~ ....,•,t,•,•)

.e
\

-15 0+

CJ 25-75
k:}::j:J Below ?5
Fig. 10.S: China: Distribution of Annual Rainfall.

range of temperature remains high in this region. This type of forests are found in northern
Precipitation occurs throughout the ) ear with a China (Manchuria). In southern parts forests have
maximum usuall) in the summer. broad leafed evergreen trees while towards the
northern margin mixed forests arc found . Sal,
5. NATURAL VEGETATI ON teak, maple, oak etc. are main trees of mixed
The natural vegetation of China varies forests. Most of the forests have been cleared to
considerably from one region to another obtain land for agriculture and settlements.
according to their latitudinal extent, climate, (3) Steppe Grasslands
topography and soils. The major types of natural Steppe grasses arc predominant in western
vegetation in China are as follows ; Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and marginal areas
(I) Tropical Monsoon Forest s of desert vegetation. Because of scanty rainfall
In these forests deciduous broad leafed treas and temparate climate, here grow only small
grow. These forests arc not vel) dense and they grasses, hushes and thorn} desert vegetation.
have fewer species of trees than in those of The steppe grasslands provide good soft grasses
tropical rain forests. Such forests cover the south to be used as pasture.
China. Sal, teak, bamboo, rosewood etc. are main (4) Temperate Desert Vegetation
trees of these forests. Most of the forl.!sts of
The large area in the western parl of China
South Chma ha\'e been cleared to obtain land for
is covered by deserts including Gobi desert,
agriculture and other purposes.
Dzungarain basin, Tarim basin and Ordos plateau .
(2) Tempe rate Monso on Fores ts.
Due to absence of or vcr)' few rainfall, the

Monsoon Regions
Plateau Cool Region
Mountain Cool Region
Steppe Region
East China Region
Manchuria Region
Fig. 10.6 : Climatic Regions of China.
vegetations grow in the form of thorny bushes,
shurbs, short stappe grasses and various types
of xerophytes.
(5) Highland Coniferous Forests
Coniferous forests grow in Manchuria and
on various high mountains of western and central
China including Altai Tag. Kunlun, Tienshan,
Khingan, Himalayas etc. Important species of
these forests are spruce, hem lock, fir, pines, tung
etc. Coniferous forests provide valuable soft wood
and pulp wood. Coniferous forest grow on higher
slopes of mountains where as the middle slopes
are covered with small grasses.
6. SOILS
Being a vast courllr) with highly diversified
topographical and climatic conditions China is
bound to have diversity in soils. Main types of
soih found in China are as follows :
World Regional Ge
(l) Alluvial Soils
Alluvial soils are found in the river valleys
of East China like Hwang Ho basin (Yellow Plain),
Yangtze basin and Sikiang basin. Alluvial soils
are also found in the deltas of these rivers. These
soils are made of river deposition and are very
fertile.
(2) Red and Yellow Soils
Red and Yellow soils occur in southern
China, and are characterized by low content of
humus and high proportion of iron. Red colour
of the soil is due to high content of iron. These
soils arc less fertile.
(3) Loess Soils
Loess soils are wind borne soils. They 3re
found mainly in the north-western China. these
soils are fine grained, deep and Yellowish in
colour. Due to dryness, these soils are prone 10
 :: 263
• soils are
(h'"tJ
d water erosion . north-eastern parts of China. Mountain
soils are
,IIr,d "
11
·1
poZ CPI ..SOJ S
stony, thin and immature. Mountain
. icultural
Cbtr . i- generally infenile and less useful for agr
(4) rnozern soils are found in areas of sem

--------
Che s purposes.
ds covered by short grasses. Such soil
Jan d in the northern part of Ma nchuria 7.AGRICULTURE
,rid foun . . •
et. 1 hey arian
,re Mo ngo lia and nor th-e aste rn Tib China's economy is predominatly an agr
soils arc population
1rtf1(rl k 10 brown in col. our. These type and more than 60 percent of its
A,,
p,•
b ac
• nitrogen and orgnic matter. The upp
er
depends on agriculture. Agriculture in
China has
matter l changes
fich ,n f the soil has sufficient organic undergone major social and technica
ia;~:e soil particles while the lime accumulat
~ the tower layer. Due to dry and cold
conditions,
es
since 1949. All the large landholdings
distributed to the peasants, and commu
had been
nes. The
ful dramatic
10 soils are less fertile and are not very use rural reforms introduced in 1979 led to
percent of
(he St.
for agricultural use. gains in agricultural output. Nearly 11
ion and an
. . the total area of China is under cultivat
(S} Chestnut ~oils . t pasture.
Chestnut soils are found m the region
lying additional 43 percent is under permanen
China's
ls. The Irrigation plays an important role in
t,etWeen chemo~em soil~ and_ desert _soi Red basin
deficient agriculture. In the irrigated areas of
upPCr layer contam_s sufficient lime and is_ t China,
in colour and in the low lying alluvial plain of Eas
. organic matter. fhey a1 e dark brown help of
two crops are raised in a year with the
~ poor in humus. Chest~ut soils are generally irrigation.
t soils in
fertile soils. There is a strip of chestnu
nly for (A) Major Crops
northern Manchuria which is used mai rice,
The main crops grown in China are
pastures. soyabean,
wheat, maize, cotton, sugarcane, tea,
(6) Desert Soils tobacco, vegetables, fruits etc. China is
the leading
ed
Dry areas of western China are characteris acco, and
in organic producer of rice, wheat, cotton, tob
by desert soils. They are deficient raw silk in the world. It is the second
largest
surface.
matter and lime accumulates below the producer of maize and tea in the wor
ld.
s but are
These soils are rich in calcium and salt (I) Rice : China is the leading produc
er of
basin,
poor in nitrogen and humus. The Tarim than 25
ered by rice in the world accounting for more
Tsaidam basin, Gobi desert etc. are cov is grown
very scanty percent of world's total output. Rice
desert soils. In these areas rainfall is gtze and
ation is mainly in the deltas of Hwang Ho, Yan
and low and loss of moisture by evapor ilability
generally Sikiang rivers and the coastal plains. Ava
very high. The fertility of these soils is important
respond of sufficient cheap labour is the most
low but where water is provided they farmers
rice producing factor. In South China,
well. annual
grow two crops of rice in a year. The
nearly 200
(7) Pod wl Soi ls
se production of rice in China touches
Podzol soils are found in Manchuria. The million tonnes.
forests
soils develop in the areas of coniferous Major rice producing areas in China are
as
where winters are Jong and summers
are short.
other follows :
They arc deficient in humus, calcium and (i) Szechwan basin and Red basin
in the middle
ly acidic
minerals. They are generally thin, high of Yangtze valley.
and are infenile. Yangtze
(ii) The lower valley and delta of the
(8) M~untain Soils River.
of
Mountain soils are found on the slopes (iii) The Lower Valley and delta of the
Hwang
cen tral and
mountains located in the western,
2~ ::._
:.:::::: _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _-:--:---==~ World Regional G
~~--..::. . . eog,-
Ho River. (5) Sugarcane : S ug ar ca n~
(iv) The lower \al\e) and delta of the material of sugar industry. The annual
Sikiang as,c l'a.\\
River of suoarcane m China is nearly 11 om
(v) Yunnan and Kweichow plateau
;::, 1/.rOduction
which accounts 1or about 7 percen ion to
r
s, situated t p nnes
south of Yangatze river. of world's total output. Thus, China rO<Juct·1
holds ~n
(2) Wheat : China is leading produc rank in sugarcane production after
er of B third
wheat in the world accounting for 15
percent of India. The coastal areas of south east raii1
ern C~d
world's total output. The annual pro and Taiwan are the main cultivat
duction of ed hllla
wheat in China is about 11 S million ton sugarcane. areas f
nes. Wheat o
is the main crop of North China. Win (6) Raw Silk : China stands on first
ter wheat
is grown is H,\ang Ho basin \\hile spri for the production of raw silk in the
ng wheat wort;nk
is grown in Manchuria. The cultivation contribu1es more than 60 percent raw
of wheat silk t •hit
is well de, eloped in north of the Yan world's total output Annual produc ot e
gtze basin. tion of
Following are the main wheat produc silk in China is nearly 300 thousand met
ing area s 111 ric to: w
China:
The produc1ion of raw silk (ser
(a) H,L '~- 1-fo ,alley where winter iculture) ~·
wheat is concentrated ·m 1our ·
r maJor .
reg10ns : (a) loweISr
grm, 11. and middle Yangtze valley, (b) Sik
(b) The loess region I) ing in the iang val! ,
north-west (Canton Basin), (c) Min valley, and (d)
where ,,inter "heat is gro" n along Shantu~y
with Peninsula. Silk worms are grown
millet and kaolin. mainly 0~
mulberry bushes and trees. Mulberry
(c) North-\\ est region which extends bushes and
up to the trees are well spaced on slopes and
border of Mongolia. flat lands.
(7) Tea : China with about 25
(d) Yangtze valley in central China whe percent
re winter production of 1he tea is the leading pro
wheat is sown after rice crop. ducer of
tea in the world. The annual production
(e) The Manchuria plain where spring of tea in
wheal is China is nearly 1500 thousand met
gro,, n. ric tonnes.
Diffe.rent types of tea like green tea,
(3) Maize : China is the second brick tea,
largest Jasmine tea, Ulong tea etc. are produced
maize producer of the world after in China.
the U.S.A. Tea in China is cultivated by small farm
The annual production of maize in Chi ers. Here
na is about modem plantations are almost neglected.
180 million tonnes accounting for The hilly
about 18 belts surrounding the Yangtze Basin are
percent of the world's total output. the main
The maize tea producing areas in China.
producing belt stretches from southern
Manchuria (8) Tobacco : China is leading prod
to the northern plains. Maize is also cull ucer of
ivated in tobacco in the world accounting for
the hill areas of the south and in nearly 35
the south- per~ent of the world's total output.
western plateaus. In Chi na
maJor tobacco producing areas are Red
(4) Cotton : China is leading produc Basin
er of Sikiang valley and the Chengtu plai
cotton in the world accounting for n. Chines~
about 20 ~obacco is of low quality and about all
percent of the world's total output. the output
In China 1s locally consumed.
cotton is cultivated in three principal
areas : (i) (9) Other Crops : Other important
the lower Yangtze valley, (ii) the upp crops
er parts of grown in China are Soya.bean, Sugarbeet,
the Hwang Ho delta, and (iii) the Wei barley,
Ho valley fodder crops, potatoes, fruits, vegetab
lying in the further west. More high etc. les, jute
yielding
variety of long staple cotton is replacin
g short (B) Agricultural Reg
staple variety in China. Due to huge ions of China
domestic The_ Science Academy of China presente
dem and, China has no surp lus to exp da
ort. systematic classification of agri cultural
regions
 1969 On lhe ha I of ( I J regional produc..1,on c>f L1Jina i obtained from aquat:W
tJJt~
The
charac1ed~tic of aw,culturaJ 1hc aq~ urt ure ,n (,''hina ,, a long f/adltJDJJ
are
phy11cal and economic cond,11011 , mt~I important inland fJ h farming arreas
~
1 of agr, cultural dcveJopmcnt, concmt,atcd m fhc deJtaJ of Hwang H,,, Y
elop ed
d1v1ded mto 4 primary region~ and Sikiang river,, Pond fiw ry 11 aha dev
sJon 11 further cJass,fied mu, 3 in the eastern plain ,
1. The agricultura l rcgwn of Sea li,hing ground1 are located aJong the
(near
asunder : w ulh-castem coast from Hongzhou Bay
Shanghai} in lhe north to Hainan Jsfand ·n
the
Dry Farming and 1,ivesff,ck 48f XJ
south. The length of this coast line is about
km. Shanghai in the north, and Guangzhou
wwa~m monoculture dry fanning and (Canton) in the south are the lead ing fJShing
ports.
n.
and livestock region of Inncr 9. MINERALS AND POWER
RESOURCES
China is one of the richest countries for
llllilllHIUu:.m three crops region. 20
lead ing
oitlaera Hu mi d Far mi ng and important mineral s in the world. It is
country for the reserves of iron ore, man
ganese,
de rcl al For est ry Region gol d,
le cropped rice and tropical forestry bauxite, copper, antimony, nickel,
sum,
of eastern and central China. phosphorous, sulphur, magnesite, kaolin, gyp
in the
precious stones etc. China is a1so rich
Je cropped humid fanning and forestry rves.
reserves of coal and petroleum rese
on of south-western highlands and Chi na
Important minerals and power resources of
are given below :
crops fanning and plantation of
(J) Iron ore : There is huge reserves
,aptculture region of southern China. iron ore in China. China has been the
lead ing
orth-Western Dr y and irri gat ed iron ore producing country in the world
since
ll'llllng and Livestock Region 1990. Its annual production of iron ore
is about
t.kpnoculture irrigated fanning and livestock 1300 million tonnes accounting for
about 44
oflnner Mongolia, Nigxia and Shansi. larg est
percent of the world's total outpuL The
where
ulture irrigated farming of Northern deposits of iron ore occur in Manchuria
con tent.
~!A l·...,g and Livesto
ck region of highlands. Anshan deposit contains 60 to 65 percent
ua and
lture irrigated fanning region of Two other important reserves are Hsuanh
A ne\\
Sinkiang. Lungkun districts in Hopei province.
is located
1111111a1-Tlbet High lands Far min g and deposit namely the Chang Jiang deposit
in the valley of the Yangtze river.
•to ck Reeion 1d
In short, large iron ore deposits are fo1JJ
k region of northern Tibet. Imp orta nt
in the north of the Yangtze river basin.
fanning and livestock region of er :
iron ore mining areas in China are as und
and Tibet Plateau. est
(a) Manchuria Region : The larg
and Forestry region of south- uria nea r
deposits of iron ore lie in Manch
Tibet. ite. The
Mukden. Most of the iron ore is haemat
ngc hun.
8. FIS HE RIE S main mining centres are Anshan and Cha
Peninsula Here
JeacHng fish producer in the world (b) Shantung
of.iron
lbout one-third to the total fish Chenlengchen is the main mining centre
811 world. About two third fish are.
266:: World RegronaJ G
---------------- - - ---:--:--- -:-~---.:..:eog,~
Nankim! mounra.ins in so1.rthem ai·.2..~
(c) Shansi Region : .!.:on ore is mined in
the east of the Yangtze ri~er "hicli e,.re:cts an d Ki~z-5i
-•
pro\'inces :!.re the """::>ll
ffll'I...-. .:_•- ~
... ~...IZ::l
mining region of rungsten.
through Shansi prO\ ince.
(d) Upper H~ang Ho Basin : Iron ore is (.fJ Antimon~ =. Chi?2 has long be~n tile
leadin2- producer ot antunom• in •'-- UK .,l!rb-i
..
extracted near Kansu and PaotO\\. Here haematite
accounting for nearly 85 percent of \liorld's ~
and Hmonile are mined.
r·_ Hunan and Kwangsi pro\in~~-~
outnut. .. ..,,.~ ~~m
l"'l.,'
(e) The Yangtze Ba.sin : The regions of
producing areas. ·
Shang.iai, Wuhan. Chungking and Yunnan ha\ e
(5) Bauxite : China shares ":Ore tr.zn in
good deposits of iron ore.
(2) Manganese : In 2004. China emerged percent to the "'orld's rotal OulJ .. ; of ba.!'<i;
as leading producer of maganese in the world. Hunan. Quichou and Siehuar. are ~·e main~~
China contributes more than 20 percent to the producing pro, inces in China.
world's total output of manganese. The principal (6) Copper : Abom 6 percem copper of the
mining areas in China are Kiangsi. Hunan, v.orld is obtained from China Mair p~cx!ue~-:...
Kwangtung. Kuangsi. Kwichou etc. areas of copper in China are ) unnan. Szed~,.,;
(3) Tungsten : China has long been noted and Tangshan.
for its supremac) in tungsten production. It (7) Zinc : China is the targest producer of
accounts for about 80 percent of the \\Orld's zinc in the \\orld. Ir accounts for more than 25
total output. Chinese tungsten is of ver: high percent output of the world.
quality. The major tungsten deposits occur in the (8) Lead : China has been the second largest

CHINA
Coal Fields

/
I ~ \
, ·- J
I
I

'
j
l - (

,_
f

'
l I

D Coa! Fields
I

Fig. l 0. 7 : Coal Areas of China.

China
1ead producer since l 990s It h
nercent of the world's tota.l s ares about 18
r- . . output.
{9} Tm : Chma is bv far th
roducer of the world s·u e leading tin
P · PP1ymg J
percent of the ,..,orld's total ~T near} 40
· f · · . · he annual
prod~ct1on o tin m Chma is about 110 thousand
memc tonnes. The major min·
. . mg areas are m
Nanking mountains. Yannan plateau K .
,. nc:1· and Hu . • wans,.
K1ang.c, nan provinces.
tlO) Gold _: China emerged as leading
producer of gold m the ,,.orld in 2008 . The maJor .
. . . oilfields of China are located in Karama1 and
QO)d mmmg areas are Yunnan, Man chuna an d
~ Lengue Xinjiang (Sinkiang), Dakang in Heilung
Tsinglingshan.
(11) Coal : China is the third largest coal
bearing count!) of the world. It has emerged by
far the topmost producer of the world. The coal
deposits of Chma are widely scattered but the
largest one is in Shensi-Shansi basin in North
China. China's coal deposits may be regionalised
into following regions :
(i) Shensi-Shansi region : It is by far
China's iargest coal region in both reserves and
output.
(ii) Beijing region : It extends from the
eastern edge of Shansi plateau through Beijing
area to Hunan in the south. It has high quality
coal.
(iii) Shantung-North Kiangsu region : It
is important in the production of largely
bituminous coal.
(h·) The Northern region : It is located in
a mountainous zone. Here coal fields are smaller
Viith poor quality coal.
(,·) The Manchurian region : It has
moderate quality coal.
(vi) The North-western region : It lies in
difficult mountainous basins. The coal fields are
less developed in output.
(,·ii) The Red Basin : It has better quality
Pennian coal in the southern part.
(\'iii) The Central Hunan region : This
region has moderate quality coal in Hupeh and
Kiangsi provinces.
(ix) The Lower Chiangziang valley : It
lies in Yangtze valley and are now mostly
...,,.... -_-- ----- . -
(x) The Yunnan region : It ha,; small coal
field. worked out for local supplies.
China at present is leading producer of coal.
Its average annual coal production is about 3200
million metric tonnes accounting for over 45
percent of the world's total output.
(12) Petroleum : The current production
of petroleum in Chma accounts for nearly S
percent of the world's total output. The maJor
Kiang, Gansu (Kansu), Qinghai, Sichuan
(Czechwan), Shandong (Shantung) and Hainan
provinces. Light oil is also found in Sikiang Basin
and the Quaidam {Tsaidam) Basin. Oil deposits
have been explored in the China Sea, Yellow Sea,
Gulf of Tonking and the Pohai.
()3) Hydro-electricity : China accounts for
about 15 percent of the world's total hydro-power.
Hydro-electric power in China comprises about
17 percent of the total electricity produced in the
country. The important centres of hydro-power
in China are : (i) rangman hydel station on the
Sungari River, (ii) Sanmen dam on the Hwang
Ho River, (iii) Liukia, (iv) Kuanting on the
Mungting River, (v) Shilsetan (Czechwan
province), (vi) Sinan dam, (vii) Anhwei dam,
and (viii) Sinkiang dam.
(14) Atomic Energy : China provide about
1.5 percent of the uranium production of the
world. In China, reserves of uranium is limited.
About 2 percent of the world's nuclear power
generation is provided by China.
10. MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
The industrial output of China has grown at
the rate of more than IO percent per year. The
industrial sector of China has surpassed all other
sectors in economic growth of the country. China
has given highest priority to metallurgical and
engineering industries. The metallurgical and
machine building industries together account for
about one third of total gross value of industrial
out put.
 ..,68:: L---;:-:~:----------------~Hlc~o~rl~d.::_R~eg ~1~o~na~l~G~e~o~ g,~·arf}_ph~y
- :::::-1A>~fajor lndustr1·es Singtao, Tientsin, Oaircn etc, -
The i_mportant manufacturing industries of (b) Inland areas : Jn the inland cotton
Chin~ ~re iron and steel industry, cotton woolen growing areas, cotton mills are established at
~'; sill< textiles, engineering industries ~hemical Wuhan (Hankow), Nanking, Chungking, Honanfu,
,n US\nes etc. ' Chengchow, Sian, Hopei, Taiyuan, Beijing, Sinan.
ll) Iron and Steel Industry Shenyang etc.
Recently_ China has emerged as leading (3) Silk Industry
producer of iron and steel in the world. It is China is by far the world's largest producer
now producing about 500 million tonnes of steel of silk fabrics accounting for more than 80 per
accounting for more than 35 percent of the cent of the world's total output. More than 60
v. orld's total. Rav. materials like iron ore, percent raw silk of the world is supplied by
manganese, lime, coal etc. are locally available. China. In China huge raw material and skilled
The steel plants of China are largely concentrated cheap labour are locally available. Reeling and
in four industrial areas : (i) Southern Manchuria, weaving of silk have been a tradition of activity
(ii) Northern China, (iii) Lower Yangtze valley in China. Silk industry is mainly concentrated in
and (iv) Upper Yangtze valley. the lower Yangtze basin and Sikiang valley. The
(a) Southern Manchuria : The largest steel major silk manufacturing centres of China are
plant of China is established at Anshan in southern Hangchow, Suchow, Yuish, Chungshui, Samsui,
Manchuria. Before second ,.,,orld war it was one Namohi, J~gtao etc.
of the largest steel centre of the world. It is (4) Woollen Textile Industry
further modernised during 1950s. China recently has emerged as by far leading
(b) Northern China : Yanghuan is an old producer of woollen fabrics in the world. It
steel centre in Shansi province. Taiyuan has been produces more than one-fourth woollen yarn and
developed as a major steel centre. nearly half of the woollen fabrics of the world.
(c) Lower Yangtze Valley : Hankow and Major centres producing woollen fabrics are
Shanghai are the old steel centres using local located mainly northward from the Yangtze valley.
coal. A major steel plant has been developed at Important centres of woollen manufacturing
Hanyand near Hankow. include Shanghai, Beijing, Liaoning etc.
(d) Upper Yangtze Valley: A big steel plant (5) Engineering Industry
has been established at Chungking in Czechwan. Automobile industry in China has been
Other important steel plants are working at developing rapidly after 2000. In 2011, China
PaotO\\ in Suiyan, Chinlingchen, Canton, emerged as the largest automobile producer in
Chichiang, Singtao and Huangs1. the world. Shenyang, Beijing and Harbin are major
(2) Cotton Textile Industry aircraft manufacturing centres of China. The Ship
China has become the largest producer of building industry in China is less developed. Major
cotton textile in the world in all types together shipyards are located at Shanghai, Tientsin and
with raw cotton, cotton yarn and cotton fabrics. Dairen. The locomotive industry in China is
China provides about 35 percent cotton yarn and developed at Shanghai, Tientsin, Liaoning,
:1hout 40 rerrent cotton cloth of the world. Cotton Chunking etc.
textile industl) in China has developed mainly in (6) Chemical Industry
two types of areas : coastal areas, and inland China is leading producer of chemical
areas. fertihzers in the world. It produces about one-
(a) Coastal areas : Main coastal centres fourth of the world's total output. China supplies
of cotton te.\iile industry are Shanghai, Canton, nearly 20 percent synthetic rubber of the world
0-- lproductr f paper and paper ''CT)' progressive mdustna sector A good nun1bcf
a.Rt the ~ d accounting for nearl)' 25 of mdustnes have developed 11 nnous p
pen:eni of the \\ rd' total output China is also China. FollO\~ing are them !JOI' ustriaf _,.,,,,_.
a.dine cement manufactunng counuy accounting of China:
for more than 40 percent of the "orld's output (I) North-East Claina JndustriaJ Rqioa
lmP0'13"t centres of chemical industries in China Thjs region is located m eastern Manch
,_ Shanghai Zibo. Fushun, Shenyang. (now lieilunkiang) provi~. This region had
cungk Nan~mg. Canton. Tianjin, J1dong. developed a host of industnes before second
NinggUO etc world war. II has a vast vanet) of resources
(8) ladustrial Regions of China including iron one, coal, petroleum and other
In recent decades China emerged as a nation minerals along with fann resources. A \\ide range
wilh one of the largest overall fann sector and of industries from light to heaV) including iron

CHINA
Industrial Regions C

,. ,- I
I
.,, .. I

I
- - I \
I
\ , . ,I \
,
, ... I
\.

' • I~ I

·--- -----:z ~~,,:

I \ I
Urunuchl

Paolou • ~
~IYJ • Ta'YUan Smg1aO
•
LendK1tN -~

I
•
Industrial Region

• lndul&IIII Centrt

l-1g. 10.8: Industrial Regt0ns of Chma

Singtao industrial region has developed a n mber
and tlCCI machinery electrical. engmeenng. ship
llailding IIC are well developed in this region. of industrial centres important f them arc
ltnpGl1lld indultrial centres include Anshan. (I) BeiJing-TIClllSin mdustn I comp ( roo and
Shuanl Yashln. Harbin. Fushun. steel. machane tool cement. f.
~ and A the oldest ron and equ;pments. consumer oods etc
( I ) 1..oyanc and Kai (cng ( Chtffl ffl
pn,ducin&
apicuhLnl mach nenes)
(J)Ne,dtCiwe .............
ui) Hsm-Hsian& (household app1IJCnCCS.
This ..-00 a ID known of Beijing-TI n-
27
consumer goods)
(h) Taiyuan region m Shansi (fenilizers
~heroic.al, iron and st.el, heav'.' mst'hinel),
cement, H;ht good, etc.)
(.,) Singtao. Ch1yuan. Tsupo and \\ eifeng in
Shantung (light to hea,: industry).
(3) Lo\\er Yangtze (Changziang) Valle~
Regioo
This region is known as Shanghai-Wuhan
industrial region. This is a , ast region e\tending
from Czech\\ an to Shanghai. This region is highly
populated. indu:,trialized. urbanized with \\ ell
de-..eloped rail road and water "J) s. Shanghai is
biggest city and industrial centre of China \\here
iron and steel industf). te,tile induslT) (cotton,
\\OOllen and silk) and engineering industry arc
v.ell developed. Wuhan is the most important
centre of iron and steel industl) "hich has China's
larges1 blast furnaces \\ uhan is second largest
industrial cit) of the countf) after Shanghai.
Hangchow. Nank.ing. \\'uchang. Nantung etc. are
other important industrial cities in lower Ynagtze
valley.
(4) Canton Industrial Region
Canton (no\, Guangzhou) at the south-
eastern coast of China is one of the major ports
and industrial cities of China. Various industries
have been de, eloped in the hinterland of Canton.
Important industries of this industrial region
include ship-building, cotton and silk textiles,
electronics. chemicals. jute industry ete. Canton
is largest port of South China.
(5) Industrial Centres
(a) Kv.eichou in South-West China has iron
and steel, fertilizer and petrochemical industries.
(b) In Yunnon province many ticlditional
industries like paper, leather and textile have been
developed.
(c) Tibet province hac; a hosl of traditional
unit , \\ith Lhasa as the main centre.
(d) Po1ou in Inner Mongolia is imponanl
industrial centre \\ ith iron nnd steel, machinery,
cerumics and chemical mdustrics.
(e) Kansu is the industrial base for North-
U rid R uma/ G·£m.,r,..,.,L.
\\est China, with Lnnch u ,ts nodal
(1) Chiuchu:m m Shens1 province I a
mdusninl centre nround Sian ffiJJQr
(g) Hong Kong has developed wide var
of industries including textiles, c.onsumer ~
etc.
(h) In Kwangs1, industrial centres k
I
Wuchai. Liuchou nnd Luchai etc have seve'ra~
industrie~.
(i) Kmngsi has dcH!loped both light and
heavy industries. oil rctinc11. petrochemicals
tc:xhles. te\tile machinc0 at several centres. '
11. POPULATION
(I) Distribution and Density of Population
China is the most populous country of the
world. It has 1364 million population (2014) or
about 20 percent population of the world Its
eastern alluvial river basins and eastern coastal
plains have witnessed heavy conc-entralion of
population while south-v.estcrn, western and
north-western parts of Chma are mountainous
and plateaus and are still empty. Jn China, the
river valleys of Hwang Ho (Yellow Ri-..er), Yangtze
Kiang and Sikiang have great clusturing of
population.
China's economy is primarily based on
agriculture. Being a subtropical and temperate
country. it has at its disposal a large collection of
plants which enables it lo have varied combination
of crops to be raised. Its eastern part is
comprised of large plain ureas "ith fenile alluvial
soils. In China, "energy is "holly devoted to
cultivation. There is no rearing of animals, no
grass field . Nothing intended tor feeding animals,
seeing that man directly need') all the harvest. Jn
the Chinese diet there is neither milk nor meat
except some pork and poultry "(Pcrpillou, 1986,
380)
The great multitude of population in China
is unevenly distributed and does not cover the
area uninterruptedly. I here is gre;1 contrast
betv.een eastern half of China and he lands
siluated in ,.,est and nor..'t-v.cst The d1stnbuUon
of density of population in China i under ·