Veeck et al. – Chap 2: China’s Natural Environment

Be able to discuss China’s size and location relative to the continental US

Implications of China’s Physical Landscape:

  • How might this contributed to the Sinocentric view of the world? For a definition of Sinocentric try here --
  • How has this effected precipitation throughout China?
  • What are the two broad categories of China’s environmental challenges? What are some examples that are given?

Surface Structure and Geomorphology

  • What is meant by the Chinese checkerboard when referring to the mountain ranges? What are the major features of China’s surface structure? Hint also look at the PowerPoint slides and divide China between Humid and Arid and then subdivisions within each part.

Hydrology and River Systems

  • Where do most of China’s rivers originate? Give some examples.
  • Huang He (Yellow River)
    What type of soil gives the Huang He (Yellow River) its characteristic color? Figure 2.1 shows the development of what is called a “hanging river” because in the North China Plain the river bed can be 2 or more stories above the surrounding countryside. This raising of the river bed is a result of both natural causes (note how in the vicinity of Xi’an the river comes out of the mountains and empties onto the plain – at this location velocity slows and much of the sediment is dumped on the river bed, allowing it to slowly build itself above the surrounding countryside. Building man-made dikes on top of the natural dikes or berm that are built up along the river accelerates the buildup, so when a flood finally breaks the dikes the river being higher than countryside has a much more damaging impact. Again look at Figure 1.2)

"Yellowrivermap" by Shannon - Background and river course data from Licensed under GFDL via Wikimedia Commons -

  • Chang Jiang (Yangtze River)

How much more water is in this as compared to the Yellow?

Note the impact of de-forestation on both these rivers (and all others) in China.

Note the ongoing work on water diversion to the Huang He watershed. This is similar but on a much larger scale then the California north to south aqueducts that feed Los Angeles and the central valley.

Note this as an example of competition between the various provinces (regions) of China.

"Yangtze River Map" by Original uploader was Papayoung at en.wikipedia - Transferred from en.wikipedia; transferred to Commons by User:Common Good using CommonsHelper.. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons -

  • Three Gorges Dam

We will spend a bit more time in class looking at this dam later in the quarter. Start familiarizing yourself with it.

Climatic Patterns and Resources

  • We have spent a bit of time on this material in class. Make sure you are familiar with it.

Soils of China

  • The key point here is to understand what Anthrosols that is what has caused them. This is quite different from what we are familiar with in the US.
  • For Map 2.8 does this seem to follow a pattern that we are familiar with? Explain.

Natural Vegetation

  • Again look at Map 2.9 and think about the above point.

Regional Challenges

  • In a few words, what kind of advantages and/or disadvantages does each region have?