Northeast China enjoys superior natural conditions. Sur-rounded by the Heilongjiang River and Xiaoxing' anling in the west and north, and the Changbai Mountain and Yalu River in the east, it has a huge fertile plain in the central part-the Northeast China Plain.

It is China's largest plain that can be divided into three parts: the Liaohe River Plain in the south, Songnen (Songhua River and Nenjiang River) Plain in the north and the Sanjiang (Heilong, Songhua and Wusuli rivers) Plain in the northeast. Winter in the North-east China Plain is long and very cold with a short frost-free period, while summer is warm enough for one ripe crop. The frtile soil has helped develop high level of agriculture, making the plain a vital grain base.

Grain in Northeast China mainly includes corn, broom-corn, soybean, millet, spring wheat and rice. Corm occupies the largest sown area and has the highest yield. Broom-corn has long been planted in the northeastern areas and is found across the region. The northeast grows superior quality soybean, with Heilongjiang topping the soybean output in the country. Most of Northeast China's spring wheat is grown in the province, with reclamation areas cre-ated in the past three to four decades having a high-mecha-nized degree and commodity grain yield.[1]

Northeast China is home to sugar beet and flax, too. The northeastern mountainous areas are heavily forested, hav-ing the highest forest cover in China. Larch forests provide the main cover in Daxing' anling, conifer and broadleaf mixed forests including Chinese pine and other deciduous broadleaf trees cover the Changbai Mountain and Korean pines that produce high-quality timber are the mainstay of Xiaoxing' anling. But deforestation over the years has made virgin forests a rare sight in the northeast, except in the northern section of Daxing' anling.

The northeastern forests are home to many precious plants and animals, including the "Three Treasures of Northeast China": ginseng, marten and antler deer. After years of efforts, people can now grow ginseng on a large scale in the mountainous areas, and breed antler deer and produce artificial mink. The Changbai Mountain is home to the Siberian or Amur tiger, the larget cat in the world, though it is threatened by hunting and loss of habitat. To protect the precious animal and plant species and conduct scientific research, the government has set up some natural reserves in the Changbai Mountain and Xiaoxing' anling. The natural reserve in the Changbai Mountain is now part of the UN Man and the Biosphere Progam.

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[1] China's northeastern forest area is its largest wood production base. The photo shows a forest in Daxing'anling.