East Asia. 2 Relative Location Introduction –East Asia is the most populous region in the world –China is the most populous country, and the oldest continuous.

East Asia

2

Relative Location

Introduction– East Asia is the most populous region in the world – China is the most populous country, and the oldest

continuous national culture– China and Japan have been rivals from time to time– East Asia has experienced colonization, and has

seen both internal and international conflict– Japan is extremely wealthy, but poverty may be

found in parts of the region– Eastern China is undergoing rapid economic

development– East Asia is one of the core areas of the world

economy and an emerging center of political power

China

Regions of China

• East• South central• North• Northeast• Northwest• Southwest

“The Heartland”

• (regions of South central and East)• Most populated• North

– Cold winters, warm/hot summers– Political and cultural centers

• South – More mild climate– Richer farming– Hilly… people packed into farmland in river valleys

East

• Beijing

South Central

• Shanghai• Guilin

Northeast

• Formerly known as Manchuria• Cold, sparsely populated• Many natural resources

– Oil– Iron– Aluminum– Ore– Coal– Lead and zinc

• Govt is working to recover these resources more effectively

North

• “Mongolia”• Gobi Desert• Hot, hot summers• Bitterly cold winters

Northwest• “Xinjiang” (sheen jee ahng)• Desert basin , surrounded by

mountains• Important oil producer• Wheat and cotton can grow here• Railroads have opened up the

area• Many non Chinese live in this

area

Southwest• “Xizang” (shee dzahng)

• aka “Tibet”• Sits among several

mountain ranges, including the Himalayas

• Mostly barren, but some farming is possible

• China took over in 1950 and has worked to develop hydroelectric power since

Rivers of China

• Huang He or Yellow River

• Yangzi or Yangtze River

• Guangzhou or Pearl River

Yellow River

• Carries very fertile, yellow-brown soil called LOESS

• Causes frequent flood and destruction… but

leaves silt!!!

Yangtze River• Carries much of China’s

trade• At mouth of the river is

Shanghai• Hydro electric power…

– Three Gorges Dam

Pearl River• Actually a system of

rivers• Flows through

southern China to the port of Guangzhou (a major port city)

The People• 95% of people in China are

ethnically Han• Minorities: Tibetans, Tajiks,

and Mongols• Many different dialects of the

Chinese language, but the official language is Mandarin

China's Flag

China's national flag was adopted in September, 1949. This flag was first flown in Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949 - the day of the founding of the People's Republic of China. The rectangular flag has a red field with five golden-yellow stars (each with five points) in the upper left corner. The star on the left is larger than the other four. The red color of the flag symbolizes revolution. The large star symbolizes the Communist Party (which rules China) and the smaller stars represent the people of China.