China and Its Neighbors

China and Its Neighbors Explain how the geography and climate of the region have affected the lives of the Chinese's and its neighbors

Vocabulary • Loess - dust like material found in soil. • Staple Crop – the most important crop produced in a region • One-Child Policy – China’s family planning policy: under this law married couples are only allowed to have one child • Single State Policy – country in which one political party controls the government • Illiterate – not knowing how to read

Landforms Gobi Desert • Located in Southern Mongolia and Northern China • Winds carry dust and soil, called loess, from the Gobi. Loess can pile up to about 10 feet

Landforms Tibetan Plateau • Highest and largest plateau in the world • The two main rivers in China start in the plateau

Landforms • The rivers in China must supply drinking water for 1/3 of the world’s population • The Chang River is also called the Yangtze • The Hung also called the Yellow River carries the rich loess soil from the Gobi

Landforms North China Plain • The land is flat because the Huang River has flooded in this area for many years • When the river floods it deposits the rich Loess • This area is home to many farms • Due to the farms and flat land, this area has a high population

Climates and Land Use

Climate and Land Use The South East has a humid subtropical climate • They grow crops that need a lot of water • They grow tea and their staple crop rice • Taiwan grows sugar and bananas

Climate and Land Use • Overall the central part of the region has continental climate • This region is has warm summers and cold winters • Location of the North China Plain • Wheat is the staple crop and people eat bread dumplings, and noodles made of wheat flour

Climate and Land Use • The western part of China is Arid • Too dry to grow crops • People are nomadic herders • Move with animals to find water and grassland • The children learn to become skilled horsemen and riders like American Cowboys

Where do you think most people in China live and why?

Populations • China has the world’s largest population • They have limited land resources • Only 15% of the land is arable, which can be used for crops • Many people are moving from the farms into the cities to find work

Population • East China has a very high population density • Arable land for growing rice • Most people live in rural areas in China, unlike the US • Many opportunities in coastal cities to find work in factories and construction sites • Shanghai is the largest city with a population of 16 million

Population • In the late 1970’s the government started a one-child policy • Married couples could only have one child • If you had more than one you could be punished • Families will send their sons to school before they send their daughters • More women are illiterate • Exceptions were made for farmers

Population • Mongolia is landlocked country with a smaller population • Most of Mongolia's population is made up nomadic herders • cities grow or shrink depending on the weather

Ethnic Diversity • China is made up of 50 ethnic groups • 92% of the people belong to the Han ethnic group and live in the east • Each group has their own language, traditions, clothing, holidays, and religions

Ethnic Diversity • The Han built the first kingdoms and would conquered new lands • Today the one child policy only applies to the Han

Government – Mongolia • 1989 the government reformed • Free elections • People elected leaders • Parliament makes the laws • Constitution protects religious freedoms and freedoms of the press

Economy – Mongolia • Moved to a Market Economy after the fall of the Soviet Union • They are landlocked and have need to transport goods by trains and trucks • They have been exporting minerals • Economy is growing but many people are still poor

Government – Taiwan • In 1989 the government moved away from a single party system • Open elections • Freedom of religion and press

Economy – Taiwan • Taiwan has a strong economy and is called the Asian Tiger • People worked for a low wage, and Taiwan was able to sell goods at a low price • As more money came in, wages went up along with the price of goods • Economy continued to grow because they improved education • Now able to make advanced products (technology, chemicals, medicines and electronics )

Government – China • Single party state controlled by the Chinese Communist Party • The government restricts the number of churches and religious groups. • China does not have freedom of press • Web sites are blocked

Government – China • People can only live where they are registered, which is their birthplace • They limit new registrations in cities • If you work in a city with registration you cannot receive healthcare and other services

Government – China • In 1989 10,000 people protested in Tiananmen Square in Beijing • They wanted more freedoms from their government • The people refused to leave so the government sent tanks and troops • Thousands were killed and wounded • Government refused to make any changes

Economy – China • The Government controlled the Economy • In the 1970’s the Government let some farmers , farm on their own. They did not have to follow the Government plan • Farm production increased

Economy – China • After what happened with the farms, China gave up the command economy • Trade is important to China, but wages have not increased • Many foreign companies have built factories along China’s coast line • China has one of the largest Economies in the world and many goods are sold in the US

Economy – China • Factories are located on the Southern and Eastern Coast and produce 60% of nations output. • Areas in the West and Central China are not developing as fast as the East due to transportation issues

Economy – China • Women do not have equal education and employment rights • Local Governments and people in the west and central parts of China struggle to pay for schools • They have a lower literacy rate and lower life expectancy rates

Environmental Challenges • China suffers from air pollution due to cars, buses and coal burning power plants • Water pollution is caused by factories and farms dumping wastes into rivers

Environmental Challenges • People in west need water because of their dry environment • Factories, families, and people compete for water • The Huang river has dried up before reaching the sea

Environmental Challenges • China has limits on pollution , but they are afraid if they punish factories people would lose their jobs • China is looking towards hydroelectricity instead of burning coal and oil • Building the dams can be expensive and disruptive • Three Gorges Dam

China and Its Neighbors