Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rivers & Plains
The other major region comprises
roughly 45% of the country and contains
95% of the population. This densely
populated part of China descends like a
staircase from west to east, from the
high plateaus of Tibet and Qinghai to
the fertile but largely featureless plains
and basins of the great rivers that drain
the high ranges. These plains are the
most important agricultural areas of the
country and the most heavily populated.
China's longest river, the Yangzi (the
'Long River'), is one of the longest rivers
in the world. Its watershed of almost 2
million sq km - 20% of China's land
mass - supports 400 million people.
Dropping from its source high on the
Tibetan plateau, it runs for 6300km to
the sea, of which the last few hundred
kilometres is across virtually flat alluvial
plains.
About 5460km long and the second-
longest river in China, the Yellow River (Huanghe) is touted as the birthplace
of Chinese civilisation and has been fundamental in the development of
Chinese society.
Mountains
1 HUANGSHAN (
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)
2 WUTAI SHAN (
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)
3 HUA SHAN (
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)
4 MOGANSHAN (
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)
5 EMEI SHAN (
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)
6 TAI SHAN (
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)
Fields & Agriculture
China's hills and mountains may sculpt a dramatic and sublime backdrop for
travellers, but have long been a massive agricultural headache for farmers.
Small plots of land are eked out in patchworks of land squashed between hill-
sides or rescued from mountain cliffs and ravines, in the demanding effort to
feed 20% of the world's population with just 10% of its arable land.
