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China is one the most ancient countries in the world. One of the key goals
for most of foreigners to travel to China is to gain objective understanding
of Chinese history and cultures that significantly differ from what are
seen in the west world. Therefore, it is surely helpful for the travelers
to have basic knowledge of China's history as well as the current situation
before their travel to China. As part of China travel guide, we compiled
the following introductions to China.
Brief Geography of China
With coasts on the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China
Sea, in total China has borders with 14 nations including Afghanistan, Pakistan,
India, Nepal,
Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam to the South; Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and
Kyrgyzstan to the West; Russia and Mongolia to the North and North Korea
to the East. China's border line ranks the second longest only next to the
Russian Federation. In general, China's territory is in a changing configuration
geographically of broad plains, extensive deserts, and lofty mountain ranges,
including vast areas of terrain where people can't live. The eastern half
of the country, its seacoast fringed with offshore islands, is a region
of fertile lowlands,
 foothills
and mountains, deserts, steppes, and subtropical areas. The western half
of China is a region of tectonic basins, rolling plateaus, and towering
massifs, including a portion of the highest tableland on earth - Himalaya
region in Tibet. In spite of many good harbors along the approximately 18,000-kilometer
coastline, the nation has traditionally oriented itself not toward the sea
but inland, developing as an imperial power whose center lay in the middle
and lower reaches of the Yellow River on the northern plains. To the north
of the Tibet Plateau lies the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts, stretching
from northwest eastward through Mongolia.
More on China Geography
>>
Ancient History of China
The first civilizations in China arose in the Yangtze river and Yellow river
valleys at the same time when Mesopotamia, Egypt and India developed their
first civilizations. For many centuries China stood as a leading civilization,
outpacing the rest of the world in the arts and sciences. Paper, gunpowder,
compass and printing including both block and movable type are among the
four most famous Chinese inventions. Chinese developments in astronomy,
medicine and other fields such as mathematics and physics were also impressive
and extensive. A heliocentric model of the solar system was discovered in
a Chinese tomb, which is about 1,700 years before Copernicus.
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Ancient China history >>
China in the Twentieth Century
 The
20th century brought a complete revolution to China's history. In fact,
several revolutionary events took place in the different period of this
worldwide stormy century. The China's last empire was overthrown in 1911
and Sun Yat Sen, a doctor and also a nationalist, became nation's first
ever president. He stepped down shortly after took the position and allowed
the former Qing general Yuan Shikai to become the president. After an abortive
attempt to declare himself as an emperor, Yuan died in 1916. Subsequently,
the central rule was collapsed and China broke into different semi-autonomous
warlord regions. In 1926-1928, a united front between Nationalists and Communists
united much of China; but later, the fierce conflicts between the two parties
resumed due to sharp ideological differences on national interests.
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in the Twentieth Century >>
Dynasties and capitals of China
Many famous cites have been either the capitals of China or the capitals of various smaller states in
the periods when China was broken up. Among all of the ancient China
capital cities, Beijing and Nanjing are most important and influential
in China's history. They are called "Northern capital" and "Southern capital" respectively
in general public, each has been the capital several times in the
history. Almost all these ancient capitals have becomes major tourism
cities in China now, while a large number of the preserved empire
buildings, empire gardens and various palaces that once were serving
emperors and their families in those capital cities have become key and
popular attractions open to domestic and foreign tourists.
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and capitals of China >>
Climate in China
 The climate of China is extremely diverse,
varying between subtropical in the south and subarctic in the north.
Various levels of monsoon winds, caused by differences in the heat-absorbing capacity of the continent and the ocean, dominate the climate
in general. Alternating seasonal air mass movements and accompanying winds are moist in summer and dry in winter. The advance and retreat of the monsoons account in large degree for the timing of the rainy season and the amount of rainfall throughout the country. Tremendous differences in latitude, longitude, and altitude give rise to sharp variations in precipitation and temperature within China. Although most of the country lies in the temperate belt, its climatic patterns are
rather complex.
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China >>
Environment and Natural Resources in China
China has substantial mineral reserves and is the world’s largest producer of antimony, natural graphite, tungsten, and zinc. Other major minerals are bauxite, coal, crude petroleum, diamonds, gold, iron ore, lead, magnetite, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, natural gas, phosphate rock, tin, uranium, and vanadium. With its vast mountain ranges, China’s hydropower potential is the largest in the world.
Based on 2005 estimates, 14.86% (about 1.4 million km2) of China’s total land area is arable. About 1.3% (some 116,580 km2) is planted to permanent crops and the rest planted to temporary crops. With comparatively little land planted to permanent crops, intensive agricultural techniques are used to reap harvests that are sufficient to feed the world’s largest population and still have surplus for export. An estimated 544,784 km² of land were irrigated in 2004. 42.9% of total land area was used as pasture, and 17.5% was forest.
More On
Environment and Natural Resources in China >> |
Are
you planning a trip to China? Whether its a business travel or a leisure
tour, we can help to make your trip smooth and enjoyable. We are not a travel
agent, but we do more than a travel agent can possibly offer. That is personal
attention, personal connection and personal care. We provide travel coordinating
services to tourist groups of any nature, any staying length and
any size, even including an individual. With our coordination, you are able
to enjoy discounted airfare, discounted luxury hotels with high star
rating, discounted ground transportation, expedited Visa services, "no rip-off"
shopping experience, authentic China food and real Chinese culture, rich
entertainments, well arranged sight seeing, flexible yet efficient schedule.
If you are a business traveler, you may also enjoy our professional "doing
business in China"