China dominates eastern Asia in terms
of size and population. Although it is one country, it is full of
ethnic and cultural diversity. To its north, we have Mongolia and
Russia (Siberia). To its east lie Japan, North Korea and South Korea.
To the south are the countries of South East Asia. To the west are the
countries of the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East.
Climate
China’s climate is not dissimilar to that of
the continental United States. In such a large country you would expect
to encounter a great variety of climate, particularly as you travel
from south to north.
In winter, cold dry winds blow out of the high-pressure system of
central Siberia, bringing low temperatures to all regions north of the
Yangtze River and drought to many parts of the country.
The southern half of the country has a sub-tropical climate, with long,
hot and humid summers. Daytime temperatures in the Yangtze basin
average 26°C and it can be very hot between April and October. Average
winter temperatures are around 4°C along the Yangtze River.
In the southwest, the mountainous plateaus and basins also have a
sub-tropical climate, with considerable local variation. As a result of
higher elevations, summers are cooler, and because of protection from
northerly winds, winters are milder.
Geography
There is a wide array of terrain in such a
large area. Mongolia contains alpine lakes and vast grasslands, known
as steppes. There is much desert as we head south towards China. China
has also some of the world’s largest and most inhospitable deserts to
its west. The country’s topography varies from mountainous regions with
towering peaks to endless, flat plains. Most of its rivers, including
the mighty Yangtze, flow eastwards.
Culture
Around half of China is populated by Han
Chinese, and the rest by Uighurs, Mongols, Tibetans, and numerous
minority ethnic groups such as Bai and Naxi. This incredible ethnic
diversity is one of the most interesting aspects of the country,
particularly in the southwest provinces, such as Yunnan and Sichuan.
Other races in the region include Japanese, Koreans and Manchurians.
Wildlife
Many unique species of wildlife still
survive in this region, despite the pressures being brought upon by the
encroachment of human beings. However it is very hard to spot wildlife
in most places, due to the elusive nature of the species concerned and
the often-rugged terrain that they live in. It is also a sad fact that
many of these animals are gravely endangered. Most well-known of the
many species still surviving include giant panda, golden monkey, red
panda and snow leopard.