China, Mongolia, and Taiwan
Climate Types
The Region Today
Cultural Features
Major Regions of China
- Southern China—Most productive economic region, with a large percentage of the population; “China’s rice bowl”; Shanghai, largest city in China; Special Economic Zones
- Northern China—Includes North China Plain and Beijing (capital); dams for irrigation and hydroelectricity along the Huang River
- Northeastern China—Formerly called Manchuria; rich in resources; nomadic herding common
- Western China—Includes Tibet and Muslim Turk regions; dry, high, and cold; herders and irrigation farmers; Dalai Lama lives in exile
- Han Chinese form majority of population.
- Mandarin is the main language.
- Additional dialects include Cantonese, Hunan, and Sichuan (Szechuan)
- Major religions are
- Buddhism
- Taoism - emphasizes living a simple life in harmony with nature
- Confucianism - centers on family loyalty, duty, and education.
- Minority groups mainly live along borders and in west; maintain distinct cultures.
- Most people live in eastern regions, especially coast and river valleys.
- Migration from rural areas is causing rapid urbanization.
- Great art traditions include architecture, literature, calligraphy, music, painting, and pottery.
- Chinese food is highly varied and has spread around the world.
- Diet is based on rice, noodles, bread, tofu, vegetables, pork, poultry, duck, seafood, tea.
- Monsoon system has major impact; eastern third of China receives most rainfall
- Mild humid subtropical—Southeastern China, Taiwan
- Humid continental—Northeastern China; warm humid summers and cold dry winters
- Dry highland—Western China, Tibet; cold, rain shadow in Taklimakan Desert
- Semiarid and arid—North-central China and Mongolia; extreme temperatures (high elevation and latitudes)
Landforms and Rivers
China
- Mountains—Himalayas, Kunlun Shan, Tian Shan, Altay Shan, Greater Khingan Range
- Plateaus and basins—Plateau of Tibet, Tarim Basin, Turpan Depression
- Plains and river valleys—Coastal plain, Red (Sichuan) Basin, North China Plain, Manchurian Plain
- Major rivers—Huang He (Yellow River), Chang (Yangtze River), Xi (Pearl River)
Mongolia
- Mongolian Plateau, Gobi Desert
Taiwan
- High mountains in east; flatter area in west
- located near tectonic boundaries, earthquakes are common
History and Culture
Mongolia: Geographic Facts
Early History
- First dynasty, the Shang, emerged along Chang River, 1700's B.C.
- Qin, the first imperial dynasty, began Great Wall in 200's B.C.
- Han dynasty (202 B.C.–A.D. 220) built great empire.
- After period of decline, Chinese power returned in 600's under Tang and Sung.
- Mongols conquered China by 1279.
- Area - More than twice as big as Texas
- Population - 2.6 million (lowest population density in the world)
- Capital - Ulaanbaatar
- Main Religion - Tibetan Buddhism
- Major Resources - Coal, copper, oil
- Economic Activity - Herding livestock—people are outnumbered by livestock
- Industries - Processed foods, clothing, footwear, paper
- Major Challenges - Mongolia faces food shortages and a shortage of water resources. Its isolated and landlocked location makes it difficult to attract investment and economic aid.
Roman Empire vs Mongol Empire
Resources
- Minerals—Top producer of coal, lead, tin, tungsten; also iron ore, bauxite, gold, other metals
- Energy—Oil, natural gas, hydroelectric power (Three Gorges Dam)
- Soils—Wide variety, but only 10% arable; terrace farming, nomadic herding, ducks, peanuts, rice, citrus fruits, tea, sugarcane, wheat, sorghum, millet, soybeans
- Fishing, aquaculture; silk production
Taiwan vs. China
- Taiwan is one of Asia’s richest and most industrialized countries.
- Exports include computers, scientific instruments, and sports equipment.
- China claims Taiwan as a province; Taiwan claims to be the legitimate government of China.
- Economic interdependence draws them closer, but political and economic differences remain.
Examples of terrace farming
Modern Political Events
- Europeans set up trade colonies beginning in 1557.
- China lost wars and territory to European powers in 1800s.
- Sun Yat-sen formed Republic of China in 1912.
- Japan seized Manchuria, then occupied eastern China during World War II.
- After the war, Communists under Mao took over; Nationalists fled to Taiwan.
- Mao’s Great Leap Forward and Cultural Revolution brought decline and chaos.
- China moved toward modernization and a market economy under Deng Xiaoping.
- Leaders crushed the pro-democracy movement in Tiananmen Square in 1989.