Regions of China

By: Brad Smith, Yehna Lee, Aneet Atwal

Northeast background

Region includes eastern China , from the Amur River in the north to the North China Plain in the south.

Was the site of one of the world’s earliest culture hearths, centered on the Huang He

China’s major lowlands areas are in the Northeast Climate

Semiarid Subarctic Humid continental

Ecosystem Coniferous forest Temperate Grassland Tropical & Mid- latitude deciduous

Site OF A VAST AGRICULTURAL AREA (Rich Soil) Economic Activities And Resources:

o Nomadic Herding• Petroleum

o Commercial Farming• Iron, Coal, Hydroelectric POWER, Tungsten

China’s Sorrow• Huange He serves as transportation route.

o Flows 3,395 miles through the Gobi Desert to the North China Plain.

• Although used for transportation, it has brought death and destruction, known as “China’s Sorrow.”o River’s swollen waters spiill over its banks,

flooding the surrounding areas.o Flooding along the Huang He resulted in one of

history’s greatest disasters in 1877 when close to 1 million people died.

o Water is used by millions people = river is dried up

SOUTHEAST Stretches the North China Plain to the country’s southern border, and from the eastern

coast to the western highland areas. Climate

Warmer and wetter than the Northeast Humid Subtropical

Ecosystem Tropical rainforest Mid- latitude forest Mid- latitude mixed forest

The region is more mountainous than the Northeast . Because of the climate and the fertile soil of the southeast’s river valleys, makes the

region excellent for farming. It also consists of the Yangzi River

Some of China’s productive farm land

NORTHWESTPopulation

Smallest Population in all of China’s region’sLargely centered in small villagesGreatly influenced by……….

Terrain InhospitableDominated by the Gobi DesertMountainous where there is not desertSome areas have loose, mat-like grassVery loose soil

CitiesMuch of the people are focused in cities Included are:

Kashgar: Population around 300,000Urumqi: Population around 1.5 million

The Silk Road

• Trade route from China to Europe• Focused on Silk (no, I thought it was French Fries)• Prior to Silk Road, almost all the citizens were farmers. • Led to the creation of many way stations• Those way stations turned into….

Tibet: Southwest background

Region includes the Plateau of Tibet Was strongly influenced and controlled by China

o Became independent from 1911 to 1950 Cold, dry Plateau of Tibet dominates China’s Southwest region by exceeding 14,000 feet

and surrounding mountains soaring 20,000 ft. Climate:

o Mostly tropical wet and dry Ecosystem:

o Temperate Grassland Population/ Persons per square mile: Less than 1 Economic Activities and Resources: barely any activities!

o Nomadic Herding

TIBET’S “INDEPENDENCE” Since 14th Century, China strongly influenced Tibet. Tibet became independent from 1911 to 1950.

China reasserted control over Tibet in 1950, again. Tighter controls by the Chinese led Tibet’s leader (Dalai Lama) to flee into exile

in 1959. China installed a Communist government in 1965 and designated Tibet an

autonomous region—a political unit within limited self-government. During 1960’s and 1970’s the Chinese destroyed Tibet’s Buddhist monasteries and

forced farmers to join agricultural communes unsuitable for their nomadic lifestyle. Tibetan culture was threatened; but many Tibetans held on to their traditions &

culture. Recent decades: Tibetans have been allowed to practice their religion more openly.

However, they fear dilution of their culture as more Chinese move into the region

One contribution to fear is the proposed railroad to connect Tibet with western China: “speed of migration”

Result: many Tibetans are now firmer in their resolve to gain independence!