Where Is China's Population Concentrated? The Eastern Coastal Belt

Over 90% of China's 1.4 billion people live in the eastern third of the country—roughly east of the Heihe–Tengchong Line.

Core Zones

• North China Plain – Beijing, Tianjin, Shijiazhuang; wheat/corn belt.
• Yangtze Delta – Shanghai, Nanjing, Hangzhou; manufacturing, finance, tech.
• Pearl River Delta – Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Dongguan; export manufacturing hub.
• Sichuan Basin – Chengdu, Chongqing; inland but dense due to fertile soil.

Drivers

Monsoon rainfall, navigable rivers, historic agricultural surplus, and coastal trade access created a self-reinforcing cycle of density and development.