China's Location and Boundary
Located in Southeast Eurasia, on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean, China is the world’s largest country in population and the third largest in area, next only to Russia and Canada. About a fifth of the world’s population live in China. China has a vast territory, including some of the world’s driest deserts and highest mountains, as well as some of the richest farmland. China’s total land area is 9.6 million km2, slightly smaller than that of Europe and accounting for 6.4% of total world land area.
The northernmost border of China is located in the heart of the Heilongjiang River while the southernmost border is the Zengmu Reef in the Nansha Islands. The distance between the northernmost and the southernmost point is about 5,500 km. 98% of Chinese territory is located in the area of 20°—50° of northern latitude. The west end of Chinese territory is located in the Pamir Plateau, while the east end is located in Fuyuan County, Heilongjiang Province, which spans 4 time zones.
With a land boundary of some 22,800 km, China is bordered by Korea to the east; Mongolia to the north; Russia to the northeast; Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the northwest; Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bhutan to the west and
southwest; and Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam to the south. Across the seas to the east and southeast are North Korea, South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia.
China’s mainland coastline measures approximately 18,000 km, with a flat topography, and many excellent docks and harbors, most of which are ice-free all year round. The Chinese mainland is flanked to the east and south by the Bohai Sea, the Yellow Sea, the East China Sea and the South China Sea, with a total maritime area of 4.73 million km2.
A total of 5,400 islands dot China’s territorial waters. The largest of these, with an area of about 36,000 km2, is Taiwan.
The Stair - like Topography of China
China’s topography was formed around the emergence of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Taking a bird’s-eye view of China, the terrain gradually descends from west to east like a four-step staircase.
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau rises continuously to become the top of the “staircase”, averaging more than 4,000 m above sea level, hence called “the roof of the world”. Soaring 8,844 m above sea level on the plateau is Mount Qomolangma, the world’s highest peak and the main peak of the Himalayas. Within the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, a series of mountains stretch from northwest to southeast with the average altitude around 5,000—6,000 m. Among those mountains, plateaus, basins and numerous lakes scatter like stars. The source of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River lies in the margin of this area. Snow-capped mountains and grass-blanketed plateaus sketch a paradise-like landscape.
The second step is mainly made up of grand plateaus and basins, and also some high mountains are distributed among them. The Tianshan Mountains stand between the Tarim Basin and the Junggar Basin with an altitude between 4,000 m and 5,000 m. In the northeast, Hexi Corridor lies along with the north Qilian Mountains. In this area, deserts, oasis, rivers and grasslands provide a great resource for stock farming.
The third step, dropping to 500—1,000 m in elevation. From north to south, are the Northeast China Plain, the North China Plain and the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plains. Interspersed amongst the plains are hills and foothills. To the east, the land extends out into the ocean in a continental shelf, forming the fourth step of the staircase. The water here is mostly less than 200 m deep. This area embraces mostly lower, flat and fertile lands, which is the most important base of agriculture, industry and economy. To the south of the Yangtze River, there are mostly lower hills, gentle rivers and basins. On the east of the coastal line, the continental shelf provides the abundant fishing resources. And numerous islands dot this area, among which the most well-known are Taiwan Island and Hainan Island.
The west-east sloping staircase-like topography is the most representative feature of the Chinese geography, which influences dramatically the river distribution. The longest rivers in China mostly originate in the first and second stairs and run from west to east, which communicate China’s west and east and strengthen the connection of inland and coastal areas. In some areas, the terrain descends sharply, and rivers flow fast with abrupt slopes and valleys, which generate the great resources of water power.
