Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
PRONOUNCING AND SPELLING CHINESE PLACE NAMES
Since Chinese is written with characters, it is necessary to transliterate these phonetically into the Roman
alphabet. The nineteenth century Wade-Giles system of romanization was commonly used before the
1970s. At that time a new system was introduced: Pinyin. Pinyin was made official in 1979.
While Pinyin is found in contemporary topics and atlases, Wade-Giles remains in pre-1950 publications.
Therefore it is important to be cognizant of both systems. If you learn to pronounce the names of all China' is
provinces and autonomous regions, you will have a head start on pronouncing other Chinese words.
PROVINCE IN PINYIN
PRONUNCIA TION
WADE-GILES SPELLING
ANHUI
AHN-WA Y
ANHWEI
ZHEJIANG
JUH-JEEONG
CHKIANG
FUJIAN
FOO-JEEEN
FUKIAN
HEILONGJIANG
HA Y -LOONG-JEEONG
HEILUNKIANG
HENAN
HUH-NON`
HONAN
HEBEI
HUH-BA Y
HUPEH
HUNAN
HOO-NAN
HUNAN
HUBEI
HOO-BA Y
HUBEI
NEI MONGGOL
NA Y -MUNG-GOO
INNER MONGOLIA
GANSU
GAHN-SOO
KANSU
JIANGXI
JEEONG SHE
KIANGSI
JIANGSU
JEEONG SU
KIANGSU
JILIN
JEE-LYNN
KIRIN
GUANGXI
GWANG-SHE
KWANGSI
GUANGDONG
GWANG-DOONG
KWANGTUNG
GUIZHOU
GWA Y -JOE
KWEICHOW
LIAONING
LEEOW-NING
LIAONING
NINGXIA
NING-SHEAH
NINGSIA
SHANXI
SHAHN-SHE
SHANSI
SHANDONG
SHAHN-DOONG
SHANTUNG
SHAANXI
SHUN-SHE
SHENSI
XINJIANG
SHIN-JEEONG
SINKIANG
SICHUAN
SSU-CHWAN
SZECHWAN
XIZANG
SHE-DZONG
TIBET
QINGHAI
CHING-HI
TSINGHAI
YUNNAN
YUOON-NAN
YUNNAN
CITIES
BEIJING
BA Y -JING
PEKING
GUANGZHOU
GWONG-JOE
CANTON
CHONGQING
CHONG-CHING
CHUNGKING
SHANGHAI
SHONG-HI
SHANGHAI
TIANJIN
TEEN-JIN
TIENTSIN
Figure 10-1
Pronunciation and spelling guide for Chinese place names. Be sure to study this guide. Once
you know how to pronounce and spell the province names, pronouncing and spelling city
names will be easier .
Figure 10-2 shows the topography of East Asia. The
mainland comprises rivers, plains, and basins separated
by mountains. Geographers demarcate the rugged and
arid environment of the west—China Frontier—from
the gentler and more humid environment of the east—
China Proper.
CHINA FRONTIER
The region demarcated as China Frontier is dominated by
spectacular mountains and plateaus, as well asforbidding
deserts and swampy basins. The Altai Mountains and the
Tien Shan (Heavenly Mountains) encase the dry Junggar
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