China's superior natural environment is reflected in mul-tiple aspects, from climate to landforms and topography. It is among the few countries whose longitudinal span runs across the highest number of climate zones. From the north- ern part of Heilongjiang to the southern tip of Hainan, China has six climate zones: cold temperate, mid-temperate, warm ftemperate, subtropical, tropical and equatorial.

That means all the climate zones, except the tundra and permafrost zones found near the poles, can be found in China. The mid-temperate, warm temperate and subtropical zones, which constutet an overwhelmingly large area of China's eritory, are especially ideal for human subsistence and development because of their moderate climate and four distinctive seasons.[1]

China's huge land area creates great regional differences in water conditions. Its average annual rainfall is 629 mm (more than 6 tillin cubic meters). But its different regions are infuenced differently by the summer monsoon and the times for its advance and retreat. They cause uneven spatial distribution of rain and gradual decrease of rainfall from the southeast to the northwest. The southern part, especially the southeastern coastal region, is highly influenced by the monsoon and enjoys an annual rainfall of 1,000 mm or more. Huoshaoliao in northeastern Taiwan Province once experi-enced an annual rainfall of 8,408 mm, a record in China.

Northwest China, which is part of the Eurasian plate, is less influenced by the monsoon. It has a low annual rainfall of less than 200 mm, except in some high mountains. The result: most areas in that part have turned into deserts or semi-deserts. For instance, Ruoqiang in the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang, has reported an annual rainfall of less than 10 mm for the past several years, and has thus become the driest place in China.

China's climate is greatly influenced by the East Asian monsoon. In summer, the preva-lence of southeasterly winds create hot and wet weather, raising the mercury higher than in other areas on the same latitude. The prevalence of northerly winds in winter result in cold and dry weather, and rela-tively low temperatures than in other areas on the same latitude. High temperatures in summer make most part of South China suitable for crops such as rice and cotton, and the accompanying wet weather makes them grow better.

The country has diverse landforms, including large areas covered by mountains, plateaus, basins, plains and hills with different natural landscapes. China is a mountainous country, with 65 percent of its territorial land dominated by mountains, plateaus and hills. Many crisscrossing high and long mountain ranges constitute the framework of China's landform.[2]

Topographically, China's western part is higher than its eastern part, creating a cascade-like slope from the west to the east. Its topography may thus be divided into three cas-cades: the first consists of areas east of the mountain chains, from Daxing anling in the north to the Taihang, Wushan and Xuefeng mountain ranges. Most of the areas in this cascade are plains and hills less than 500-m high. The country's three plains, the Northeast China, North China and the Middle-Lower Yangtze plains, as well as its largest hilly area in the southeast are all part of this cascade.

The second cascade comprises areas west of the three mountain chains, most of which are plateaus and basins between 1,000 m to 2,000 m above the sea level. Three of China's four major plateaus-the Inner Mongolian Plateau, Loess Plateau and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, as well as all its four major basins, Sichuan, Tarim, Junggar and Qaid-am-are part of this cascade.[3]

The third cascade is the Tibetan Plateau, which consists of stretches of flat plateaus above 4,000 m and a series of long mountain ranges between 5,000-m and 6,000-m high. This plateau has more than ten 8,000-m or higher peaks. The world's highest peak, Mount Qomolangma, is on China's border with Nepal and rises to 8844.43 m, making the Ti-betan Plateau the "Roof of the World."

The natural inclining topography makes it easier for the humid ocean air to flow into China. Many rivers, shaped by and dependent on rainfall, not only connect the inland with coastal areas, but also provide huge water energy resources as they flow along the inclining topography with difference in water levels. Taking advantage of the topography, many hydropower stations have been built in the Yangtze and Yel-low river valleys.

Note:

[1] Left: Winter in North China is cold and dry. China's northeastem part has a long winter and short summer, and experiences plenty of snowfall.

Right: South China enjoys plentiful rainfall and a wet climate. China's southernmost province of Hainan has an extremely long summer and is hot and wet all year round.

[2] Most of East China's coastal areas are flat plains and gently rolling hills. The photo shows the Pearl River Delta.

[3] Most of China's western areas are plateaus and mountains. The photo shows the world's highest peak, Qomolangma.