The Majestic Mountains of China
Mountains cover 33 percent of China’s landmass, plateaus 26 percent, basins 19 percent, plains 12 percent, and hills 10 percent. Thus, 69 percent of China’s land is mountains, hills, and highlands. China has five main mountain ranges, and seven of its mountain peaks are higher than 8,000 m above sea level. The main land features include the Qingzang (Qinghai-Tibet) Plateau at 4,000 m above sea level and the Kunlun, Qinling, and Greater Hinggan ranges. In the Himalaya Mountains, the world’s highest is Mount Qomolangma at 8,844.4 m. The lowest inland point in China—the second lowest place in the world after the Dead Sea—is at Turpan Basin, 140 km southeast of Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, at 154 m below sea level. With temperatures that have reached 49.6, it also ranks as one of the hottest places in China.
The Mighty Rivers of China
China has 50,000 rivers totaling some 420,000 km in length and each having a catchment area of more than 100 km2. Some 1,500 of these rivers each have catchment areas exceeding 1,000 km2. Most rivers flow from west to east and empty into the Pacific Ocean. The Yangtze River, which rises in Tibet, flows through central China, and, having traveled about 6,300 km, enters the Yellow Sea near Shanghai. The Yangtze River has a catchment area of 1.8 million km2 and is the third longest river in the world after the Amazon and the Nile. The second longest river in China is the Yellow River, which also rises in Tibet and travels circuitously 5,464 km through North China before reaching the Bohai Sea Gulf on the north coast of Shandong Province. It has a catchment area of 752,000 km2. The Heilongjiang River flows for 3,101 km in Northeast China and an additional 1,249 m in Russia, where it is known as the Amur. The longest river in South China is the Zhujiang River, which is 2,214 km long.
Rivers have traditionally been important transportation routes in China. The Yangtze River, the Yellow River and the Lancang River all begin in eastern Tibet and twist and turn through rugged mountains before reaching elevations low enough for them to become navigable.
In addition to those bestowed by nature, China has a famous man-made river— the Grand Canal, running from Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province in the south. It links five major rivers: the Haihe River, the Yellow River, the Huaihe River, the Yangtze River and the Qiantang River. With a total length of 1,801 km, the Grand Canal is the longest as well as the oldest man-made waterway in the world.
The Enchanting Lakes of China
Besides the world-renowned rivers and mountains, China also boasts a big variety of lakes, some of which are the watery wonders granted by nature. Each of these lakes has its own features with the breathtaking beauty, sanctity and abundant resources.
Poyang Lake is one of the seven world’s important wetlands and the biggest fresh water lake in China. This mysterious lake is fully decorated with poetic and picturesque scenery. Seen from a distance, the lake resembles a giant gourd tying to the belt of the Yangtze River. Influenced by the southeast monsoon with a lot of water vapor, Poyang Lake is often wreathed in mist. Besides that, as the habitat for half a million migratory birds, you can also admire the Siberian cranes there in winter.
Dongting Lake is a large, shallow lake in northeastern Hunan Province. The scene of Dongting Lake is most magnificent when overlooked from the mouth of the three rivers. Many state-level scenic spot attractions are situated alongside the lake, such as Yueyang Tower and the tomb of Du Fu. Except for the charming lakeside scenery, the lake is the original place of dragon boat racing, adding its popularity in Chinese culture. It is also a home to the Finless Porpoise, which is endangered due to human activities.
It is said that West Lake is a gleaming pearl dropped from the heaven; another saying goes that West Lake is like a graceful girl sitting in Hangzhou. Numerous temples, pagodas, gardens, and artificial islands stand within the lake. It was described into the list of World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2011.
In Mongolian, Kanas means “beautiful, rich and mysterious”. The Kanas Lake is leaned close to the deep forests and mountains. It is the deepest freshwater lake in China and home to 798 species of plants and 117 varieties of birds. Surrounded by snow-capped mountains and dense forest, the lake takes on different colors in different seasons. The Kanas Lake is also a mysterious place where you can see large lake creatures.
Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China with twenty-three rivers and streams emptying into it. When overlooked afar, Qinghai Lake is a picture unfolding before your eyes with evergreen mountains, clear and glittering water, endless grassland, and clustering sheep. More surprisingly, the color of its water changes with the time of year and the time of day; it also changes with the water depth.
