THE GEOGRAPHY
OF CHINA,
MONGOLIA, AND
TAIWAN
Geography
BBS
2014-2015
NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS
 China is the third largest country in land area behind Russia and Canada
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respectively.
The Himalayas, the world’s largest mountain range, are located along the
SW border with Nepal and Bhutan.
Between the mountain ranges border the north and south is the Plateau of
Tibet.
The plains and river valleys of eastern China are the most densely
populated areas in the country.
To the north of China is Mongolia. The Mongolian Plateau makes up the
majority of the country. The Gobi Desert extends from China into
Mongolia as well.
Southeast of China is the island of Taiwan located in the Pacific Ocean. This
island is located near active tectonic plates so earthquakes do occur.
NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS
 China has huge amounts of energy and mineral resources. Coal is a
major resource found in the North and Northeastern regions of the
country.
 Hydropower is a major energy resource in China as well. Many dams
are built to produce hydroelectricity, such as the Three Gorges Dam.
 Paddy fields are common on arable land in China and uses intensive
agriculture, or human labor. Aquaculture is also important to harvest
fish and marine life.
HISTORY AND CULTURE
 For centuries, China had contact with the outside world mostly through
overland trade routes, such as the Silk Road extending from China to
the Black Sea.
 European influences reached China in the 1500s.
 The Republic of China was formed in 1912 after the overthrowing of
the Qing dynasty after attempts to keep out colonizing powers (Europe,
Japan, the US).
 In 1945 after years of unrest with Japan, the Communist Party began
fighting for control to create the People’s Republic of China (PRC)
under Mao Zedong. This eventually came to fruition by 1949.
HISTORY AND CULTURE
 Communists had the challenge to feed the people of China and how to
parcel land.
 Gender equality became the norm under communism in China.
 In 1958 under the Great Leap Forward initiative, Mao attempted to
industrialize the country. It did not work.
 The Cultural Revolution (1966-77) came in direct response to the
Great Leap Forward.
 After Mao’s death in 1976, new leader Deng Xiaoping pushed forward
to modernize China and to introduce a market economy.
THE REGION TODAY
 China
 Southern China is the most productive region economically because of it population and
place (physical characteristics). Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong are located in this
region.
 Taiwan
 Taiwan is one of Asia’s richest and most industrialized countries. Its major trading partners
are China, Japan, and the US.
 China’s Communist government claims that Taiwan is still a province of China. However,
Taiwan’s government claims to be the legitimate government of China.
 Mongolia
 Mongolia is the least densely populated country in the world.
 The country had its first free elections in 1990. Before this, it had been under the influence
of the Soviet Union.
 Recently, its economy has opened up to foreign aid and investment.