World Geography
Where You Live Affects How You Live:
Examining the Physical Geography of China
China is the largest country in the Far East. The country has a total area of 3.7 million square
miles, making China the 4th largest country in the world (just behind the United States). Given that
China is such a large country (covering a wide range of latitude), it should not come as a surprise that
the physical geography of the country is incredibly diverse.
Landforms in China…
Western China is home to world’s largest plateau. This high, flat plateau, often called the
“Roof of the World” is really the Plateau of Tibet. Its
average height is about 14,800 feet above sea level.
Scattered shrubs and grasses cover the plateau’s harsh
landscape. Pandas, golden monkeys and other rare animals
roam around the thick forests found at the eastern end of
the plateau. The Plateau of Tibet is surrounded by huge
mountain ranges (Himalaya and Karakoram mountains in
the south, Kunlun Range in the north). As a result of its
location, the plateau is very isolated from the rest of China.
The climate of the region is rather arid. The plateau receives
9-12 inches of precipitation annually and it comes mostly in the form of hail. Some sections of the
plateau are covered in grasslands, but even those grasslands are covered in frost for 6 months of the
year.
In addition to very high elevations, western China has some extremely low
areas too. The Turpan Depression lies about 505 feet below sea level. It is partly
filled with salt lakes. Sparse vegetation exists in the areas around the lakes (small
shrubs and reeds), but there is no vegetation in any other area of the region.
There is very little rainfall (with some regions receiving less than 2 cm per year).
It is also the hottest region in China. Daytime temperatures can reach as high as
122oF.
In northern China, mountain ranges circle
desert areas. One of these areas is the Taklimakan
Desert. Sandstorms can last for days and they create
huge, drifting sand dunes. It is one of the most
dangerous areas in China due to the physical
geography. However, there are a couple of towns
located around “oases” in the desert. These oases
towns are fed water from the mountains. Farther east
lies another desert, the Gobi. The Gobi Desert is very
large (about twice the size of Texas). Instead of sand,
the Gobi is covered in rocks and stones. The
o
temperature ranges from -40 F in the winter to 113 oF in the summer!
The eastern side of China is covered by
plains that run along the Yellow Sea and the East
China Sea. The Manchurian Plain is located in the
northeastern part of China. The land is rich in
fertile soil and the region has a continental climate
with long, cold winters and hot, wet summers.
The Manchurian Plain also contains natural
resources such as iron ore, coal and oil. The North
China Plain is located just south of the
Manchurian Plain. The fertile soil located in the
North China Plain is deposited by the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. These rivers run throughout the
plains. There are very few mountains or other natural barriers found in the North China Plain,
making it one of the largest, uninterrupted plains in all of Asia.
Natural Disasters…
China is located along the Ring of Fire (a name given to the Pacific Coastal areas that have
volcanoes and are prone to earthquakes). The eastern part of China has experienced many severe
earthquakes in its long history. The last devastating earthquake in China was in 2008 which resulted
in the deaths of over 68,000 people. Two of China’s rivers are also known for annual flooding. Each
year, the Yellow and the Yangtze rivers flow over their banks and flood the surrounding landscape.
While these floods have caused great damage to China (and resulted in people’s deaths), they also
help China. The flooding replenishes the region with fertile soil from the overflowing river.
Name:
Date:
Core:
World Geography
Physical Geography of China:
Where You Live Affects How You Live Reflections…
Directions: Use the Where You Live Affects How You Live: Examining the Physical Geography of
China handout to answer the following question.
1. Explain how the physical geography of China might affect the way that the Chinese people
live? Support your answer using two specific details from the reading (ATITIC).
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4
Exemplary
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Insightful, well
organized, and fluent
Deep understanding of
text is demonstrated
Specific references to
text are used to support
ideas
Text references are well
interpreted and clearly
connected to response
3
Proficient
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Thoughtful, organized,
and fluent
Clear understanding of
the text is demonstrated
Relevant references to
text are used to support
ideas
Text references are
explained and connected
to response
2
Progressing
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Organized and
somewhat fluent
Basic understanding of
text is displayed
At least one relevant
example from text is
used to support ideas
Text references are
somewhat connected to
response
1
Beginning
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Disorganized or confusing
Limited or no
understanding of text is
displayed
Limited or no examples
from text are used to
support ideas
Text reference seems
irrelevant to response
Step 1. Analyze the Question. Read the “Reader Response” question and make sure you know what
the question is asking. Highlight the 4 most important words in the question.
Reader Response Question:
Explain how the physical geography of China might affect the way that the Chinese people
live? Support your answer using two specific details from the reading (ATITIC).
What are some ways that physical geography of an area affects the people who live there?
Examples of “Where You Live Affects How You Live”
If a part of the country is very mountainous, people may not live there because it’s too difficult to
farm and build houses.
Step 2 Selecting Evidence (text/film support). Look at the reading. Identify two specific
parts of China’s physical geography (landforms, water, climate, natural disasters). Write
down two examples from your notes in the space provided.
Evidence (text)
Inference
Step 3. Making an Inference. Write a sentence explaining how each of these physical features
in China might affect the people who live there. Write each sentence in the “inference:
column on the table above.