Human and Physical Geography of China

Human Features

• Population: 1.4B+; concentrated in eastern "Hu Line" (Heihe–Tengchong): 94% people on 43% land.
• Ethnic Groups: 56 recognized; Han 91%, Zhuang, Uyghur, Hui, Miao, Tibetan, etc.
• Languages: Mandarin (Putonghua) official; 300+ languages/dialects (Wu, Yue/Cantonese, Min, Hakka, etc.).
• Religions: Officially atheist; practiced: Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Christianity, folk religion.
• Urbanization: ~65% urban; megacities: Shanghai (24M), Beijing (21M), Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shenzhen.

Physical Features

• Topography: 3-step staircase: Tibetan Plateau (4,500m) → basins/plateaus (1,000–2,000m) → eastern plains/coast.
• Mountains: Himalayas (Everest), Kunlun, Tian Shan, Hengduan.
• Rivers: Yangtze (6,300 km, 3rd longest), Yellow, Pearl, Mekong (Lancang), Salween, Brahmaputra.
• Deserts: Taklamakan, Gobi (north).
• Climate Zones: Tropical (Hainan) → Subarctic (Mohe); Monsoon-driven wet summers, dry winters.
• Resources: Coal, rare earths, iron, hydro, solar/wind potential, arable land (13%).

This diversity underpins China's economic regionalization and environmental challenges.