GEOGRAPHY

China occupies the Eastern part of the Asian continent. In the East and in the South it is washed by the Pacific Ocean. From here vast valleys with humid climate spread around. In the West of China there are huge deserts, the highest mountainous ridges in the world and table lands, or plateaux. In the North the territory of the country encompasses boundless Mongolian steps and closely borders the spaciousness of Siberia. Glancing at China from above, from a great height, one may see that it resembles a huge staircase with four flights of stairs, going down from the West to the East. The highest stair is formed by the Tsinghai Tibetan Highlands, and the lowest one - the continental shelves at a depth of up to 200 meters. The major part of the country is occupied by the mountainous massifs, which considerably influence the climate, not less diverse and multifarious, than the relief. The largest portion of the territory of China lies in a temperate climatic zone, the Southern regions being located in the tropical and subtropical zones; while the North of the country bounds by a zone of moderate cold climate. So when in the North a severe winter cold reigns, in the South it is tropically hot. While it rains cats and dogs in the East, not a single drop of moisture might fall onto the desert-like soil in the West.

The vegetation, the plant and the animal world of China are exclusively rich and diversified. China occupies one of few top places in the world as far as the quantity of wild animal species is concerned, of which quite a few inhabit China only, like the Great Panda, for example, officially considered the national asset and the heritage of the country. The voluptuous flora and fauna since the times immemorial gave the Chinese an impetus to show interest in and probe into the properties of plants and live creatures, as a result extremely valuable, unsurpassed in richness data as to the healing properties of mushrooms, herbs, insects, flowers among others have accumulated in the country.

The Chinese traditionally call their country Chung-hua or Chung-hua Jen-min Kung-ho-kuo, (Pinyin) Zhonghua or Zhonghua Renmin Gongheguo country of East Asia. "The Middle Land Country" - this title reflects the ancient notions of the Chinese, the concept, according to which their country is situated in the centre of the World.

A Park in Chengdu city in central Szechwan sheng (province),  China.Ye.D.  Petrova. 2006.		Lotuses. Beijing. I.A.Alimov. 2006.		Chinese junks. China, late 19th-early 20th c.
Blooming cherry tree. April. China. Beijing. Alimov I., 2007		View of Hong Kong Island. China, Hong Kong. Petrova E., 2006		View of Hong Kong. China, Hong Kong. The Chinese, mid-to-late 19th c.
Mountains in Northwest China. China. Snatenkov V., 2006		Bamboo thickets behind a temple. China. Beijing. Alimov I., 2006		Shilin. «Stown forest». China. Yunnan. Snatenkov V., 2006
Rivers and Mountains of South China. China. Snatenkov V., 2006		View of tea plantations. China, mid-to-late 19th c.		Ponds in Beijing are often full of numerous fish stock. Feeding raises liveliness among fish, it seems that the water is boiling. China. Beijing. Alimov I., 2007