TheGeography

of China

TheGeography

of China

Satellite View of ChinaSatellite View of ChinaSatellite View of ChinaSatellite View of China

China’s ProvincesChina’s ProvincesChina’s ProvincesChina’s Provinces

China’s Background (People’s Republic of China)

End of WWII (1945)

• Start of Cold War Period and the ….

• Civil War between. . . .

> Chinese Communists & Nationalist Chinese>U.S. supports Nationalists, Nationalists Lose

• Chinese Communists takeover Mainland China 1949

• Nationalist Chinese go to Taiwan

• China’s Official Name = People’s Republic of China

• China on Taiwan known as “The Republic of China”

Mao Zedong 1949 - 1976

China’s Background (People’s Republic of China)

Mao Zedong

• Language Reform Main Dialect = Mandarin

• “Spell” and write the language the way it “Sounds” in Mandarin

Mao Tse-Tung

• Spell Sound = “PINYIN”“X” = Sh “Q” = Ch

China TODAY1970 – 1980 until the present (2012), some

changes occur in China.

• Politically– Still a one party, authoritarian government.

“NO Bill of Rights” for freedom of speech, assembly, religion etc.

• Socially – “Normal”

• Economically – Driven by Capitalism

China—Asia’s Superpower China—Asia’s Superpower (Maps)(Maps)China—Asia’s Superpower China—Asia’s Superpower (Maps)(Maps)

China compared with the U. S. in SizeChina compared with the U. S. in SizeChina compared with the U. S. in SizeChina compared with the U. S. in Size

China

United States

SOURCE: Topic 5: “The Awakening Giant” by Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, Dept. of Economics & Geography, Hofstra University.

China United States

SizeSize 3.7 million 3.7 million square square milesmiles

3.6 million 3.6 million square square milesmiles

Main Main physical physical barrierbarrier

HimalayasHimalayas RockiesRockies

Main Main RiverRiver

Yangtze or Yangtze or Chang (Chang (East – East – West)West)

Mississippi / Mississippi / North – North – SouthSouth

PopulationPopulation East CoastEast Coast East CoastEast Coast

ConnectivitConnectivity problemsy problems

North - North - SouthSouth

East - WestEast - West

Countries & RegionsCountries & RegionsCountries & RegionsCountries & Regions

Tibet

Mongolia

Southeast Asia

Indian Subcontinent

Russia

N. Korea

S> Korea

Taiwan

Philippines

TopographyTopography

China’s TopographyChina’s TopographyChina’s TopographyChina’s Topography

Percentages of Different Percentages of Different LandformsLandforms

Percentages of Different Percentages of Different LandformsLandforms

Pacific “Rim of Fire”Pacific “Rim of Fire”Pacific “Rim of Fire”Pacific “Rim of Fire”

The Polluted Yellow River!The Polluted Yellow River!The Polluted Yellow River!The Polluted Yellow River!

The Great Wall of China plus. . .The Great Wall of China plus. . .The Great Wall of China plus. . .The Great Wall of China plus. . .

Mountains, Deserts, Plateaus & the Ocean Contribute to concept of

ZHONG GUO (Chinese ethnocentrism)

Mountains, Deserts, Plateaus & the Ocean Contribute to concept of

ZHONG GUO (Chinese ethnocentrism)

Plains Plains Plains Plains

Manchurian Plain

North China Plain

Agricultural Regions in ChinaAgricultural Regions in ChinaAgricultural Regions in ChinaAgricultural Regions in China

Grand Canal

Great Wall

ZHONG ZHONG

GUOGUO

North China PlainNorth China PlainNorth China PlainNorth China Plain

Main Chinese NationalitiesMain Chinese NationalitiesMain Chinese NationalitiesMain Chinese Nationalities

Manchus

90 – 95%

13th-14th

17th-20th

Ethno-Linguistic Ethno-Linguistic Groups in ChinaGroups in ChinaEthno-Linguistic Ethno-Linguistic Groups in ChinaGroups in China