Where is China on the Map? An Overview of the Massive Asian Nation
China is located in East Asia, bordering 14 countries and 3 seas. With a total land area of about 3.7 million square miles, it is the world’s third largest country by area after Russia and Canada. China also has the largest population in the world at over 1.4 billion people.
Geographic Location
China stretches across much of eastern Asia, bordering the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, and South China Sea between North Korea and Vietnam. It shares international boundaries with the following countries:
- North Korea
- Russia
- Mongolia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Tajikistan
- Afghanistan
- Pakistan
- India
- Nepal
- Bhutan
- Myanmar
- Laos
- Vietnam
Landforms and Topography
China has a highly diverse topography, with landscapes ranging from plateaus and mountains in the west to plains and hills in the east. Some major landforms include:
The Tibetan Plateau
This high-altitude plateau in western China has an average elevation of over 16,000 feet. It contains the Himalayan Mountains and is the source of many major rivers like the Yangtze, Yellow, Mekong, and Brahmaputra.
Tarim Basin
This large desert basin surrounded by mountains in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region accounts for 1/6 of China’s total land area.
Loess Plateau
This plateau in central China contains deep deposits of loess soil and features dramatic, vertical sides cut by rivers.
Northeast Plain
An expansive plain covering parts of northeastern China including the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.
Sichuan Basin
This lowland basin surrounded by mountains in southwestern China contains the largest basin in China and an incredibly fertile agricultural area.
Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau
This plateau in southern China has a rough karst topography featuring sinkholes, caves, and underground drainage systems.
Climate and Weather Patterns
China has a hugely diverse climate ranging from subtropical in the south to subarctic in the far north. Monsoons also have a significant influence.
Dry and Rainy Seasons
Most of China experiences seasonal monsoons which produce a dry winter and rainy summer. July and August see the most rain.
North-South Temperature Difference
Northern China has frigid winters with temperatures below freezing while southern China remains relatively mild and frost-free.
Mountain Ranges
Mountain ranges like the Himalayas and Karakoram block cold air from Siberia from reaching central and southern China.
Urban Heat Islands
Larger cities like Beijing and Shanghai experience warmer temperatures than surrounding rural areas due to the urban heat island effect.
Major Geographic Features and Landmarks
China contains many notable geographic features:
Mount Everest
Located on the border with Nepal, this is the highest mountain in the world at 29,032 feet.
Yangtze River
The longest river in Asia and third longest worldwide, it flows 3,900 miles from Tibet to Shanghai.
Gobi Desert
This cold desert makes up parts of northern and northwestern China.
Pearl River Delta
This incredibly populated delta is an economic hub and includes the cities of Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Macau and Hong Kong.
Three Gorges Dam
The world’s largest power station spanning the Yangtze River.
Top Tourist Attractions and Destinations
Some top attractions bringing millions of visitors every year include:
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Great Wall of China
This ancient fortification stretching thousands of miles is a UNESCO site and China’s most popular destination.
Forbidden City, Beijing
The expansive imperial palace in the heart of Beijing with nearly 1,000 buildings.
Terracotta Army, Xi’an
Thousands of life-sized clay soldier figures guarding the tomb of China’s first emperor.
Li River, Guangxi
Stunning limestone karst mountains along the winding Li River.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Known for its pillar-like formations that inspired the scenery in Avatar.
Shanghai Skyline
A futuristic skyline with architectural marvels like the Shanghai Tower.
Mogao Caves, Dunhuang
Colorful Buddhist cave shrines containing stunning wall paintings and manuscripts.
Economy and Industry
China has transitioned to a market economy and is a major engine of global trade. Key economic facts:
- Second largest GDP in the world (Nominal: $17.7 trillion / PPP: $30 trillion)
- Largest manufacturing economy and largest exporter of goods
- Major industries include electronics, automobiles, machinery, steel, textiles, construction materials, chemicals, and consumer products
- Major agricultural products are rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, peanuts, tea, millet, barley, apples, cotton, oilseed, pork, and fish
- Large and expanding services sector now accounts for 54% of GDP
- World leader in e-commerce and mobile payment systems
Conclusion
In summary, China is a vast nation that takes up much of eastern Asia with diverse landscapes including mountains, deserts, plains, and river deltas. It has a predominantly temperate climate with distinct dry and rainy seasons. Some of China’s most notable features are Mount Everest, the expansive Gobi Desert, the Yangtze River, and the Pearl River Delta. As a populous economic powerhouse, China boasts incredible history and architecture like the Great Wall and Forbidden City as well as booming modern cities with futuristic skylines. China continues to urbanize as economic expansion is driven by manufacturing, exports, and a growing services industry.
FAQs
1. What is the capital of China?
The capital of China is Beijing, located in northern China. Beijing is China’s second largest city after Shanghai with over 21 million residents in its metro area.
2. What countries border China?
China shares international borders with 14 countries: North Korea, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, and Vietnam.
3. What are China’s major cities?
China’s largest and most important cities are Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Tianjin, Wuhan, Dongguan, Foshan, Chengdu, Nanjing, Hangzhou, Shenyang, Xi’an, and Chongqing.
4. What languages are spoken in China?
The official language is Standard Mandarin. Other major regional languages include Cantonese, Shanghainese, Fuzhou dialect, Hakka, and Minnan. There are also many minority ethnic languages.
5. What is the climate like in China?
China has a very diverse climate ranging from subarctic in the far north to tropical in the far south. Seasonal monsoons produce a rainy summer and dry winter.