LocationThe heartland of this region is considered to be the North China Plain, which is bounded by Taihang Mountains to the West, Yan Mountains to the North, the Pacific Ocean to the East, and the Yangtze River to the South. The Yellow River flows through the plain. This region is one of the most highly populated regions of China; its geography plays a huge role in that (Geogrpahy of China).
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The LandNorth China, between the Mongolian steppes and Yangtze River, has terraced land that is highly cultivated. This plain is considered to be alluvial, meaning that its soil is made up of materials left by waters, rivers, or even floods (North China Plain). This makes sense if we think about the boundaries of the region; there is water runoff from the mountains to the West and North, as well as from the Yangtze River and the Pacific Ocean to the South and East. This allows for extremely fertile soil, impacting the lifestyles of the residents of the region.
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AgricultureThe southern portion of this region is focused primarily on agriculture. Wheat, cotton, tobacco, peanuts, persimmons, and other seasonal fruits and vegetables are grown, including rice. therefore, its residents are part of a particularly sedentary population (Understanding the Geography of China). Look below to learn more about the significance of this geography.
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Impact on Lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle means that that its residents have lived in the same place for a long period of time. The people living in the agricultural region farm the land for a living, like the rice terrace pictured above, and their careers were most likely passed down from generation to generation. With that being said, life on the plain is one of self sufficiency and subsistence; the main food staple is wheat based(Understanding the Geography of China).
The residents of the Northern region are socially organized in clans or villages and live in single story mud based structures. The transportation on the plain occurs by walking, wheelbarrows, biking, or small cars (Understanding the Geography of China).
Shenyang Village. CC-BY 3.0 Northern Plain. Public Domain Great Wall of China. CC-BY-SA 3.0