Our Nation's Geography
AdvancedThe nation lies in East Asia on the west Pacific shore, with a vast territory of 34 provincial-level regions, its land stepping down from west to east like a three-step staircase.
- The nation lies in East Asia, on the west Pacific shore.
- Its territory is vast — third largest in the world.
- Thirty-four provincial-level regions, including the SARs of Hong Kong and Macao.
文體小知識：說明文介紹地理知識。這一篇帶你展開中國地圖，認識國家的位置、版圖和像三級階梯般的地形。
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1Open a world map and, in East Asia on the western shore of the Pacific, you will find our nation — the People's Republic of China. Its land area is about 9.6 million square kilometres, the third largest country in the world. From east to west stretches over five thousand kilometres and north to south about five and a half thousand: when the sun rises in the east, night has not yet lifted in the west — a truly vast territory.
2The nation is divided into 34 provincial-level regions — 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions and 4 municipalities (Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing), plus the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Beijing is the capital. Each region has its character: Shanxi is famous for wheaten food, Sichuan for chilli, Inner Mongolia for wide grasslands, Xinjiang for sweet fruit.
3The land descends from west to east like a three-step staircase. The first step is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the south-west, averaging over 4,000 metres above sea level and known as the roof of the world; the second step is broad plateaux and basins such as the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Loess Plateau and the Tarim Basin, about 1,000 to 2,000 metres high; the third step is the eastern plains and hills, such as the North China Plain and the middle-lower Yangtze plains, mostly below 500 metres.
4As for mountains and rivers, the Himalayas stand on the south-west border, their main peak Qomolangma (Mount Everest) rising over 8,800 metres — the world's highest. The Yangtze River, about 6,300 kilometres long, is China's longest river; the Yellow River, about 5,500 kilometres, is called the Mother River, for Chinese civilisation was nurtured in its valley. Both rivers run west to east into the sea, following the three steps down.
5The vast territory brings varied nature: when the north is icy in winter, people still swim on Hainan Island in the south; the east faces the sea, rich in fishing and shipping; the west reaches deep inland with deserts, grasslands and snowy mountains. Resources abound and scenery differs everywhere. Knowing the nation's geography is the first step to knowing this country and its people.
1Summary 重點摘要
The nation lies in East Asia on the west Pacific shore, with a vast territory of 34 provincial-level regions, its land stepping down from west to east like a three-step staircase.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
The land area belonging to a country.
A first-level region of the nation, such as Guangdong or Sichuan.
A provincial-level region where minority peoples live, such as Inner Mongolia.
A major city governed directly by the central government, such as Beijing or Shanghai.
The shape of the land, high or low, such as plateaux and plains.
The description of the land stepping down from high west to low east in three steps.
The world's highest great plateau in the south-west, the roof of the world.
The main peak of the Himalayas, over 8,800 metres — the world's highest.
About 6,300 kilometres long, the longest river in China.
The Mother River, in whose valley Chinese civilisation began.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Find the nation's locationOn the globe, first find Asia, the world's largest continent; on its east, by the western shore of the Pacific, lies the People's Republic of China. Its land area is about 9.6 million square kilometres, roughly the size of Europe, third largest in the world. From the Heilongjiang River in the north to islands in the South China Sea, from the Pacific in the east to the Pamirs in the west, the territory spans five time zones, all keeping Beijing Time.
- Step 2: Appreciate the vast territoryEast to west the country stretches over five thousand kilometres, north to south about five and a half thousand. Flying from Heilongjiang in the far east to Xinjiang in the far west takes over five hours; the high-speed train from Beijing to Guangzhou takes about eight. In winter, while Harbin in the north freezes, Hainan Island in the south stays green and warm. The vast land holds frigid, temperate and tropical scenery alike, with rich and varied natural resources.
- Step 3: Know the provincial-level regionsThe nation has 34 provincial-level regions: 23 provinces, such as Guangdong and Sichuan; 5 autonomous regions, such as Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang; and 4 municipalities — Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing; plus the two special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao. Beijing is the capital and a famous historical city. Knowing provinces' names and locations helps in news and daily life: see Longjing tea and you know it comes from Zhejiang.
- Step 4: Understand the three-step staircaseThe land is high in the west and low in the east, like a three-step staircase. The first step is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, averaging over 4,000 metres — the world's highest plateau, the roof of the world. The second step, east and north of its rim, includes the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Loess Plateau, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the Tarim Basin, at about 1,000 to 2,000 metres. The third step is the broad eastern plains and hills, mostly below 500 metres. Where the steps meet, rivers plunge with rich hydropower.
- Step 5: Know the main ranges and peaksThe country has many famous ranges: the Himalayas, Kunlun, Tianshan and the Qinling. The Himalayas on the south-west border are the world's highest range; their main peak, Qomolangma, standing on the China-Nepal border at over 8,800 metres, is the world's highest — the summit every mountaineer dreams of. In the east, famous mountains such as Taishan, Huangshan and Huashan are known for their scenery and ancient culture, drawing countless visitors.
- Step 6: Know the Yangtze and the Yellow RiverThe Yangtze rises on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and runs about 6,300 kilometres — China's longest river. Cities such as Chongqing, Wuhan, Nanjing and Shanghai line it, with busy shipping that earns it the name Golden Waterway. The Yellow River runs about 5,500 kilometres, carrying yellow silt; thousands of years ago our ancestors farmed its valley, where Chinese civilisation was born, so it is honoured as the Mother River. Both flow west to east, following the staircase down to the sea.
- Step 7: See how geography shapes lifeGeography shapes living: the eastern plains, fertile and well watered, are the key farming area, dense with people and cities; the western mountains and plateaux rely on herding and oasis farming; the coast, rich in ports, thrives on trade and fishing. Terrain shapes transport too: mountain roads need tunnels and bridges, magnificent works. On your next trip, notice whether you stand on plain or hill, and whether the bowl holds rice or wheat — the answer is written in the geography.
5Worked example Example
Example: On a relief map of China, the colours change from dark brown in the west to light green in the east. What rule of the land does this show? Name a representative area for each step.
- Read the key: the darker the colour, the higher the land — dark brown for mountains and plateaux, light green for plains.
- First step: the dark brown west is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, over 4,000 metres, the roof of the world.
- Second step: the middle, slightly lighter plateaux and basins, such as the Loess Plateau and Tarim Basin, at 1,000 to 2,000 metres.
- Third step: the light green eastern plains and hills, such as the North China Plain, mostly below 500 metres.
- Sum up: colours darkening to the west show the land high in the west and low in the east — a three-step staircase down which the rivers flow east.
- Answer: The colours lighten from west to east, showing the land is high in the west and low in the east, like three steps: the first is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau above 4,000 metres; the second, plateaux and basins of 1,000 to 2,000 metres such as the Loess Plateau and Tarim Basin; the third, eastern plains and hills below 500 metres such as the North China Plain. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers follow the steps eastward into the sea.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is the nation's land area, roughly?
Q2How many provincial-level regions does the nation have?
Q3What is the capital of the nation?
Q4Which plateau is the roof of the world?
Q5Which is China's longest river?
8Recap Recap
- The nation lies in East Asia, on the west Pacific shore.
- Its territory is vast — third largest in the world.
- Thirty-four provincial-level regions, including the SARs of Hong Kong and Macao.
- The land is high in the west, low in the east — a three-step staircase.
- Qomolangma is the world's highest peak; the Yangtze the longest river.