Seas Bordering China: A Geographic Overview

China's 14,500+ km coastline abuts several marginal seas of the western Pacific:

Major Seas

• Bohai Sea: Semi‑enclosed, shallow (avg. 18 m), between Liaodong and Shandong Peninsulas; connected to Yellow Sea via Bohai Strait.
• Yellow Sea: Between China and Korea; major shipping lane and fishing ground; linked to East China Sea by Korea Strait.
• East China Sea: Between China and Japan; rich fisheries, oil/gas reserves; connects to Pacific via East China Sea Basin.
• South China Sea: Largest of China's seas; bordered by Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei, Indonesia; critical trade route, rich resources, disputed islands/reefs.

Other Notable Water Bodies

• Gulf of Beibu (Tonkin): Between Leizhou Peninsula and Hainan; fishing, oil/gas.
• Hangzhou Bay: Large bay south of Shanghai; extreme tides, transport hub, tourism.
• Taiwan Strait: Narrow passage linking East and South China Seas; major shipping lane, geopolitical flashpoint.