Global Studies
Key
China Geography & Introduction Notes
1. China is officially known as the People’s Republic of China and its capital is Beijing.
2. The traditional name of China is Zhongguo, which means Middle Kingdom. The Chinese
thought they were at the center of the world because they were isolated and surrounded by less
civilized people.
3. China is perhaps the world’s oldest continuous civilization with a history that dates back 4000
years. In 1949, the Communists led by Mao Zedong took over China and proclaimed it the
People’s Republic of China.
4. China is the world’s most populated country with a population of 1.3 billion. The world’s
population total is 7 billion, so China represents approximately 20% of the world’s population.
5. Ethnically, over 90% of Chinese are Han and the official language is Mandarin Chinese.
6. China is officially atheist, but people practice Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Taoism.
7. In terms of area, China is just slightly smaller than the United States. It is the fourth largest
country in the world after Russia, Canada and the United States.
8. China’s east is covered in fertile plains, hills and fertile valleys.
9. China’s west is dominated by mountains, deserts and plateaus.
10. North China includes the Huang He (Yellow River), the North China Plain, and Beijing, the
capital. Chinese civilization and the Mandarin language started here.
11. South China includes the Chang (Yangtze River) and is dominated by hills.
12. Together, North and South China make up the Heartland. This eastern third of China has the
best farmland, the most industry, and is home to 95% of China’s population.
13. Northeast China was formerly known as Manchuria. It is home to the Manchus, one of China’s
minority ethnic groups.
14. China’s Mongolia region is also known as Inner Mongolia. It is home to the Gobi Desert and
the Mongols, another minority group.
15. Xinjiang is a basin region, home to the Taklimakan Desert. Many Muslims live in this region
and the government has been battling a separatist movement led by the Uighurs, another
minority group.
16. Xizang, also known as Tibet, is dominated by a vast plateau. China took over Tibet in 1958 and
its traditional leader, the Dalai Lama, fled and lives in exile. There has been unrest among the
Tibetans, another minority group, and a growing Tibetan independence movement.
17. The Huang He, which is also known as the Yellow River, is in the north. Its name comes from
loess, yellow-brown soil that winds carry across the North China Plain. Because of its flooding,
it is also known as the River of Sorrow.
18. The Chang, which is also known as the Yangtze River, is further south. It is home to the Three
Gorges Dam, the world’s largest power station.
19. The Xi Jiang, or West River, is in the south.
20. Major islands off the coast of China include Hainan in the south and Taiwan, which was
formerly known as Formosa, in the east. When the Communists took over China in 1949, their
rivals, the Nationalists fled to Taiwan, which remains known as the Republic of China.
21. China is 50% urban and has 14 cities of over 5 million people. The largest city is Shanghai, with
a population of approximately 24 million.
22. China regained Hong Kong in 1997 from Britain in 1999. Hong Kong enjoys a high degree of
autonomy and economic freedom.
23. China is a one-party state controlled by the Communist Party and led by President Xi Jinping.
24. Though still officially socialist, China’s economy has grown dramatically since 1978 when it
opened up to foreign investment and made capitalist reforms. Today, China has over 200
billionaires.
25. China has the world’s second largest economy, after the United States, as measured by GDP. In
terms of GDP per capita, China ranks roughly 85th in the world.
26. China’s economy is growing quickly and is ranked first in the world in manufacturing and
exports.
27. China’s chief crops are rice, which is grown in the south, and wheat, which is grown in the
north.
Global Studies
Name ____________________________________
China Geography & Introduction Notes
1. China is officially known as the ___________________________________ and its capital is ____________.
2. The traditional name of China is ___________________, which means __________________________. The
Chinese thought they were at the _____________________________ because they were ________________
and surrounded by _____________________ people.
3. China is perhaps the world’s _________________________________________ with a history that dates back
__________________. In _________, the ___________________ led by ______________________ took
over China and proclaimed it the People’s Republic of China.
4. China is the world’s _______________________ country with a population of _______________. The
world’s population total is _________________, so China represents approximately _________ of the
world’s population.
5. Ethnically, ______________ of Chinese are ________ and the official language is
____________________________.
6. China is officially _______________, but people practice ________________________________________
__________________________.
7. In terms of area, China is just ________________________ than the _______________________. It is the
____________ largest country in the world after ________________________________________________.
8. China’s _________ is covered in _______________________________________________.
9. China’s _________ is dominated by ______________________________________________.
10. ___________________ includes the _________________ (Yellow River), the ________________________,
and ______________, the capital. Chinese __________________ and the ____________________________
started here.
11. ___________________ includes the ____________ (Yangtze River) and is dominated by __________.
12. Together, North and South China make up the __________________. This _____________________ of
China has the _____________________, the ______________________, and is home to ________ of
China’s _________________.
13. ____________________________ was formerly known as __________________. It is home to the
____________________, one of China’s minority ethnic groups.
14. China’s __________________ region is also known as _________________________. It is home to the
_________________________, and the ______________, another minority group.
15. ________________ is a _____________________, home to the ______________________________. Many
________________ live in this region and the government has been battling a _________________________
led by the __________________, another minority group.
16. ________________, also known as ____________, is dominated by a _________________________. China
___________________ Tibet in 1958 and its traditional leader, the ____________________, fled and lives in
_______________. There has been unrest among the _________________, another minority group, and a
growing Tibetan ________________________________..
17. The ___________________, which is also known as the ____________________, is in the _____________.
Its name comes from ___________, _________________________ that winds carry across the North China
Plain. Because of its __________________, it is also known as the _______________________________.
18. The ___________, which is also known as the _________________________, is ______________________.
It is home to the ______________________________, the world’s _________________________________.
19. The ________________, or __________________, is in the ____________.
20. Major islands off the coast of China include _________________ in the south and _________________,
which was formerly known as _______________, in the east. When the Communists took over China in
1949, their rivals, the _____________________ fled to Taiwan, which remains known as the
________________________________.
21. China is ________________ and has _________________ of over 5 million people. The largest city is
__________________, with a population of approximately _____________________.
22. China regained _______________________ in 1997 from _______________. Hong Kong enjoy a high
degree of ____________________ and ____________________________.
23. China is a __________________________ controlled by the _________________________ and led by
President ______________________.
24. Though still officially _______________, China’s economy has _______________________________ since
__________ when it opened up to ___________________________ and made ________________________.
Today, China has over __________________________.
25. China has the world’s ____________________________________________, after the _________________,
as measured by _________. In terms of ____________________, China ranks roughly _______ in the world.
26. China’s economy is ______________________________ and is ranked ________ in the world in
______________________ and _____________.
27. China’s chief crops are __________, which is grown in the __________, and __________, which is grown in
the _________.