|
|
The spectacular
Huangguoshu
Waterfall in
Guizhou Province.
The U-shaped turn of
Yaluzangbu River--
the No. 1 Canyon
in the World.
|
Introduction
Located
in East Asia, on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean, the People's
Republic of China (PRC) has a land area of about 9.6 million sq
km, and is the third-largest country in the world, next only to
Russia and Canada.
From
north to south, the territory of China measures some 5,500 km, stretching
from the center of the Heilongjiang River north of the town of Mohe
(latitude 53??
30?? N) to the Zengmu Reef at the southernmost tip of the Nansha
Islands (latitude 4??
N). When north China is still covered with snow, people in south
China are busy with spring plowing. From west to east, the nation
extends about 5,200 km from the Pamirs (longitude 73??
40??E) to the confluence of the Heilongjiang and Wusuli rivers (longitude
135??
05?? E), with a time difference of over four hours. When the Pamirs
are cloaked in night, the morning sun is shining brightly over east
China. China has land borders 22,800 km long, with 15 contiguous
countries: Korea to the east; the People??s Republic of Mongolia
to the north;
Russia to the northeast; Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan and Tajikistan
to the northwest; Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sikkim and
Bhutan to the west and southwest; and Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar
to the south. Across the seas to the east and southeast are the
Republic of Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and
Indonesia.
|
|
The
Chinese mainland is flanked to the east and south by the Bohai,
Yellow, East China and South China seas, with a total maritime area
of 4.73 million sq km. The Bohai Sea is China??s continental sea,
while the Yellow, East China and South China seas are marginal seas
of the Pacific Ocean. A total of 5,400 islands dot China??s vast
territorial waters. The largest of these, with an area of about
36,000 sq km, is Taiwan, followed by Hainan with an area of 34,000
sq km. Diaoyu and Chiwei islands, located to the northeast of Taiwan
Island, are China??s easternmost islands. The many islands, islets,
reefs and shoals on the South China Sea, known collectively as the
South China Sea Islands, are subdivided into the Dongsha, Xisha,
Zhongsha and Nansha island groups.
|
|
China's
Location on the Map of the World
|
|
|
|
