Understanding the Geography of China

An Assemblage of Pieces

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Just as the physical environment shape human societies, human settlements have changed the natural landscape. Photo: mote/flickr.

Northeast (Manchuria)
Physical characteristics: The dominant physical feature of this region
is its winter cold and ice. Equally distinctive and important are its
two extensive wetlands-the northernmost associated with the Songari
River and the southern with the Liao River. Nevertheless, its basic
natural resources of iron ore and coal have made it economically vital
to the rest of China.

History: The Manchus invaded China in the seventeenth century,
establishing the Qing dynasty in 1644. The lands of Manchuria, however,
were not open to Han settlement until the dynasty's end in 1911. Most
Chinese migrants worked in existing industry and on large commercial
farms producing mostly soybeans and corn.

Economic activities and resources today: Manchuria is China's most
important region for heavy industry. Coal and iron mining are also
central to the region's economy, and ginseng, soybeans, and timber are
major products.

Housing: caves carved into the loess cliffs and mud-brick houses in
rural areas; apartments in urban areas. Some Russian influence in the
architecture.
Social organization: nuclear families
Transportation: walking, mule, and horse in rural areas
Food staples: meat and soybean curds