There are many types of landforms in China, including five basic types on land including mountains, plateaus, basins, plains and hills. The rich landform types provide a variety of conditions for the development of China s industry and agriculture.

Mountain Range

The mountain ranges are formed by the extension of the mountains and often make the dividing lines of various terrains. According to the direction of extension, China’s mountain ranges can be divided into east-west direction, north-south direction, northeast-southwest direction, northwest-southeast direction, and curved mountain ranges. Among them, the Qinling Ridge in the east-west direction can be regarded as the natural boundary line between the north and the south of China’s geography, while the Himalayas on the border between China and Nepal are representative of the curved mountains.

The mountain ranges are the backbones of the terrain and make natural geographical boundaries. They have important influences on climate change and the development of human civilization.

Plateaus

China has four grand plateaus — the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Loess Plateau, and the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau. Their total area accounts for 33.3% of the country’s total land area. Due to the different heights, locations and formations, the characteristics of the four plateaus are different. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has a high terrain and is known as the “Roof of the World”. It has the highest mountain in the world, among many snow-capped mountains. It is the largest of the four plateaus. The Inner Mongolia Plateau is a combination of natural grassland and desert. The terrain is gentle and there are few mountains. The Loess Plateau, which is on the second level with the Inner Mongolia Plateau, is the third largest in the four plateaus. The plateau is covered with 50-80 meters of loess. The plants are scarce and the soil erosion is serious. There are many canyons in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau with high and low mountains, as well as many small mountain basins with relatively developed agriculture.

Basins

The Xinjiang Tarim Basin, the Junggar Basin, the Qinghai Qaidam Basin and the Sichuan Basin are known as the four major basins in China. They are mostly distributed on the second level with higher terrain, and the difference in position determines their respective characteristics. The desert area in the Tarim Basin is large and looks desolate, but the underground is rich in natural resources. There are plains and hills in the Sichuan Basin, where plants are rich in species and economically developed. It is a rich “land of abundance”. In addition to the four major basins, there are many small basins in the eastern part of China with different characteristics.

Plains

The Northeast Plain, the North China Plain, and the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Plain are the three major plains in China. They are connected to the north and south and have fertile land. They are the most important agricultural areas in China. The plains boast a large population, urban density, convenient transportation, rapid economic development, and many important cities. In addition, China has the Chengdu Plain, the Fen-Wei Plain, the Pearl River Delta, and the Western Taiwan Plain. They are also important agricultural production zones and economically developed areas.

Hills

There are many hills in China, most concentrated in the south of the Yangtze River. There are many kinds of plants in the hilly area, and many economic trees such as tea trees and fruit trees are planted; underground minerals are very rich. Some hills have been transformed into terraces, which can store water and develop planting industries. Other hilly peaks have become sightseeing destinations that tourists yearn for.

Cultural Notes

The Loess Plateau

China's third largest plateau, located in the northwestern part of China, is the largest loess distribution area in the world. The surface is rugged with many ravines, plants are scarce, and soil erosion is serious.

The Tarim Basin

the largest inland basin in China and in the world. “Tarim” means “flowing into the tributaries of the lake and the desert” in the Uyghur language. Surrounded by mountains, the basin has both oases and deserts with a dry climate. It is rich in oil and natural gas resources.