Geography of China

Located in the east of Asia and on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean, China is the third-largest country in the world by land area, boasts an incredible array of geographical features. Covering an area of 9.6 million square kilometers and possessing a coastline stretching 18,000 kilometers, its shape on the map is like a rooster.

Location

China is situated in the eastern part of the Eurasia, bordering 14 countries land and facing the Pacific Ocean to the east. Its northern extremity stretches to Mohe in Heilongjiang Province, while its southern boundary reaches Zengmu Ansha (alternatively known as James Shoal). To the west, it encompasses the Pamirs, and to the east, it extends to the border where the Heilongjiang (Amur) River meets the Wusuli (Ussuri) River, covering approximately 50 degrees of latitude and 62 degrees of longitude.

Terrain

China's terrain is incredibly diverse, featuring five main topographical features: plains, plateaus, mountains, hills, and basins. The mountainous areas occupy a vast territory, accounting for about two-thirds of the country's total area.

China's terrain is generally distributed in three tiers, with the west being higher and the east lower. The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in the southwest, with an average altitude above 4,000 meters, forms the first tier. The second tier, located between the Daxing'an Mountains-Taihang Mountains-Wushan Mountains-Yunnan-Kweichow Plateau line and the first tier, has an altitude between 1,000 and 2,000 meters and is mainly composed of plateaus and basins. The third tier, east of the second tier and above sea level, has an altitude of mostly below 500 meters and is dominated by hills and plains.

Climate

China's climate varies widely due to its large size and complex terrain. The continental monsoon climate is the main characteristic of China's climate. The southern regions experience subtropical to tropical climates with warm winters and hot, humid summers, while the north has a temperate climate with cooler winters and warmer summers. The Qinghai-Xizang Plateau has a unique high-altitude climate with cold, dry winters and cool, rainy summers.

Geographical Highlights

Highest Mountain: Mount Qomolangma, located in the Himalayas on the border between China's Xizang Autonomous Region and Nepal, is the world's highest mountain, reaching 8,848.86 meters (29,031.7 feet) above sea level.

Longest River: The Yangtze River, stretching approximately 6,300 kilometers (3,910 miles), is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest globally. It originates from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and empties into the East China Sea.

Largest Desert: The Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is China's largest and one of the world's largest shifting sand deserts.

Deepest Canyon: The Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon in Xizang, deeper than the Grand Canyon in the United States, is the world's deepest canyon by average depth.