Based on the spatial differences of natural conditions, Chi-na can be roughly divided into three large regions: the east-ern monsoon areas, northwest inland areas and the Tibetan Plateau areas.

The three regions can be further divided into seven geographical areas-northeastern, northern, middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, southern, southwest-ern, northwestern areas, and the Tibetan Plateau. Each of these areas has a special charm with distinctive features, both in terms of natural environment and cultural landscape.

The Chinese mainland, especially its eastern areas, is highly influenced by the East Asian monsoon. The eastern monsoon region comprises Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, Hubei, Fujian, Taiwan, Guangdong, Hainan, Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, the municipalities of Beiing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chongqing, and the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions. The eastern monsoon region has good natural conditions, a dense popu-lation and a developed economy.