Chapter 1　A General Outline of China中国概况

Chapter 1　A General Outline of China中国概况

China，whose full name is the People's Republic of China，has a vast land with boundless natural resources，a long history，spectacular landscapes，colorful cultural heritage and varied national customs．The Chinese nation created a glorious civilization in the early stage of mankind's history．The compass，gunpowder，the art of papermaking and movable type printing invented by the ancient Chinese have contributed tremendously to the progress of mankind in the world．The Great Wall，the Grand Canal and other projects built by the Chinese people are regarded as engineering feats on the globe．

1.Location and Territory

1)Location

China is located in eastern Asia，on the west coast of the Pacific Ocean．The total land area of China is 9，600，000∗square kilometers，slightly smaller than that of Europe，and it is the largest country in Asia and the third largest country in the world next only to Russia and Canada．(see picture1-1)

2)Territory

From east to west，the territory of China extends from the confluence of the Heilong River and Wusuli River to the Pamirs，which covers a distance of about 5，200 kilometers;from north to south，China stretches from the center of the Heilong River north of the town of Mohe to the Zengmu Reef at the southernmost tip of the Nansha Islands，covering a distance of about 5，500 kilometers．

China shares a boundary of some 22，800 kilometers，bordered by North Korea to the east;Mongolia to the north;Russia to the northeast;Kazakhstan，Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the northwest;Afghanistan，Pakistan，India，Nepal and Bhutan to the west and southwest;and Myanmar，Laos and Vietnam to the south．Across the seas to the east and southeast are the South Korea，Japan，the Philippines，Brunei，Malaysia and Indonesia．

3)Territorial Waters and Island

The Chinese mainland is flanked to the east and south by the Bohai Sea as China's continental sea，Yellow Sea，East China Sea and South China Sea as marginal seas of the Pacific Ocean．The coastline of China's mainland is about 18，000 kilometers，with a flat topography and many excellent ice-free docks and harbors．

China's territorial waters are 4．73 million square kilometers．There are many islands lying offshore of China，the largest of which are Taiwan Island with an area of about 36，000 square kilometers，and Hainan Island with an area of 34，000 square kilometers．There are a lot of archipelagoes such as the Zhoushan Islands and the islands in the East and South China Seas．There are a number of peninsulas along the coast;the largest ones are the Shandong Peninsula，Liaodong Peninsula and Leizhou Peninsula．

2.Topography

The topography of China is characterized by high west part and low east part，gradually descending in elevation from the west towards the east to form three steps．The highest step is the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with the elevation being generally more than 4，500 meters above sea level，hence known as“the roof of the world”．To the east of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau is the second step with much lower elevations，ranging between 1，000 meters and 2，000 meters and alternating with huge basins．The third step stretches from the line in the west composed of the Greater Hinggan Mountains，Taihang Mountain，Wu Mountain and the eastern rim of the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau to the coast in the east，and embraces alternating hills and plains，and there are large areas of low mountains and hills at elevations of less than 500 meters above sea level with only a few peaks being at 2，000 meters，and the elevation of plains is all less than 200 meters．

The plains are the important industrial and agricultural bases and economic centers of China．They are distributed in the north to south direction，including Northeast Plain，North China Plain，Middle to Lower Yangtze Plain and Pearl River Delta Plain．According to the types of topography，mountains in China account for 33．3%of the national land area，plateaus 26．0%，basins 18．8%，hills 9．9%and plains 12．0%．

Most rivers in China flow west to east into the Pacific Ocean except a few in the Southwest that flow to the South．The Yangtze River，6，300 kilometers long，is the largest river in China，which originates from the Tanggula Mountain on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and flows to the East China Sea．It is the third longest river after the Nile and the Amazon．The Yellow River is 5，500 kilometers long，the second longest river in China，flowing to the Bohai Sea．Both rivers are the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilization with a wealth of historical sites and relics．

3.Climate

China is a country with diverse climates．From the south to the north，the country is divided into tropical，subtropical，temperate and frigid climate zones．The climate in China varies greatly．For instance，Hainan Island in the south has long，hot summers and no winters，while the winter temperature drops to below 30℃in Heilongjiang，Jilin and Liaoning provinces in the northeastern part of China．

Most of China lies in the North Temperate Zone，characterized by a warm climate and distinctive seasons，a climate well suited for habitation．Most parts of China are subject to strong monsoon climate．From September to April the following year，the dry and cold winter monsoons blow from Siberia and the Mongolian Plateau，resulting in cold and dry winters and great differences between the temperatures of north and south China．From April to September，warm and humid summer monsoons blow from the seas in the east and south，resulting in overall high temperatures and plentiful rainfall，and little temperature difference between north and south China．

Precipitation gradually declines from the southeastern to the northwestern inland area，and the average annual precipitation varies greatly from place to place and from season to season．The average annual precipitation in China is 648 mm，or 19%less than the world average 800 mm on land．The annual precipitation in the southeastern coastal areas and parts of the southwestern areas is more than 2，000 mm，but that in the northwestern China is usually less than 200 mm，and 50 mm in the Tarim and Turpan basins in Xinjiang and Chaidamu Basin in Qinghai，etc．，even less than 25 mm at centers of those basins．

4.Natural Resources

1)Cultivated Land，Forest and Grassland

China's cultivated lands，forests and grasslands are among the world's largest in terms of sheer area．However，due to China's large population，the per-capita areas of cultivated land，forest and grassland are small，especially in the case of cultivated land—only one third of the world's average．

In China，130．04 million hectares of land are cultivated，mainly on the Northeast Plain，the North China Plain，the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain，the Pearl River Delta and the Sichuan Basin．The fertile black soil of the Northeast Plain，the largest plain in China with an area of more than 350，000 square kilometers，abounds in wheat，corn，sorghum，soybeans，flax and sugar beet．The deep brown topsoil of the North China Plain is planted with wheat，corn，millet and cotton．The Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain's flat terrain and many lakes and rivers make it particularly suitable for paddy rice and freshwater fish;therefore，it is called“a land of fish and rice．”This area also produces large quantities of tea and silkworms．The purplish soil of the warm and humid Sichuan Basin is green with crops in all four seasons，including paddy rice，rapeseed and sugarcane．The Pearl River Delta abounds with paddy rice，harvested 2-3 times every year．

Forests cover about 175 million hectares of China．The Greater Hinggan Mountains，the Lesser Hinggan Mountains and Changbai Mountain Ranges in the northeast are China's largest natural forest areas．Major tree species found here include conifers，such as Korean pine，larch and Korean larch，and coniferous-broadleaf trees such as white birch，oak，willow，elm and Northeast China ash．Major tree species in the southwest include the dragon spruce，fir and Yunnan pine，as well as teak，red sandalwood，camphor，nanmu and so on．Xishuangbanna，often called a kingdom of plants，in the south of Yunnan Province，is a rare tropical broadleaf forest area in China，playing host to more than 5，000 plant species．

Grasslands in China cover an area of 400 million hectares，stretching more than 3，000 kilometers from the northeast to the southwest．They are the centers of animal husbandry．The Inner Mongolian Prairie is China's largest natural pastureland，and home to the famous Sanhe horses，Sanhe cattle and Mongolian sheep．The important natural pasturelands in north and south of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang are ideal for stockbreeding，where the famous Ili horses and Xinjiang fine-wool sheep are raised．

2)Mineral Resources

China has deposits of almost all the minerals known in the world．Minerals of 151 different kinds have been verified，which lead the world in the reserves of tungsten，antimony，rare earth，molybdenum，vanadium and titanium．Other deposits which are among the largest in the world are coal，iron，lead-zinc，copper，silver，mercury，tin，nickel，phosphorus and asbestos．

China's basic coal reserves total 334．2 billion tons，mainly distributed in north，northwest，northeast and southwest China with Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region，Shanxi Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region heading the field．China's 21．24 billion tons of the basic iron ore reserves are distributed mainly in northeast，north and southwest China such as Liaoning Province，eastern Hebei and western Sichuan provinces．Tungsten reserves are concentrated in southeastern Hunan，southern Jiangxi，and northern Guangdong，western Fujian and eastern Guangxi，though they are found in 19 provinces and autonomous regions across China．

China also abounds in petroleum，natural gas，oil shale，phosphorus and sulfur．Petroleum reserves are mainly found in northwest，northeast and north China，as well as in the continental shelves of east China．

3)Water Resources

Freshwater in China mainly comes from rivers and lakes．China's territory includes numerous lakes，most of which are found on the Middle-Lower Yangtze Plain and the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau．Freshwater lakes such as Poyang Lake，Dongting Lake，Taihu Lake，and Hongze Lake mostly lie in the former area，while in the latter are saltwater lakes，such as Qinghai Lake，Nam Co Lake and Siling Co Lake．Poyang Lake in the north of Jiangxi Province，with an area of 3，583 square kilometers，is the largest of its kind．Qinghai Lake，in northeast Qinghai Province and with an area of 4，583 square kilometers，is the largest one of its kind．

China's rivers can be categorized as exterior and interior systems．The catchment area of the exterior rivers that empty into the oceans accounts for 64%of the country's total land area．The Yangtze，Yellow，Heilong，Pearl，Liaohe，Haihe and Huaihe rivers flow east，and empty into the Pacific Ocean．The Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet，which flows first east and then south into the Indian Ocean，boasts the Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon，the largest canyon in the world，504．6 kilometers long and 6，009 meters deep．The Ertix River flows north from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to the Arctic Ocean．The catchment area of the interior rivers that flow into inland lakes or disappear into deserts or salt marshes makes up about 36%of China's total land area．Its length of 2，179 kilometers makes the Tarim River in southern Xinjiang China's longest interior river．

The Yangtze River，6，300 kilometers long，is the largest river in China，and the third largest in the world，next only to the Nile in Africa and the Amazon in South America．Passing through high mountains and deep valleys，the upper section of the Yangtze River is abundant in water resources．Known as the“golden waterway，”the Yangtze is a transportation artery linking west and east，its navigation benefiting from excellent natural channels．The middle and lower Yangtze River areas have a warm and humid climate，plentiful rainfall and fertile soil，making them important agricultural regions．The Yellow River is the second largest river in China with a length of 5，500 kilometers．The Yellow River valley was one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilization．It has lush pasturelands along its banks，flourishing agriculture and abundant mineral deposits．

The Heilong River is a large river in north China with a total length of 4，350 kilometers，of which 3，420 kilometers are in China．The Pearl River，2，210 kilometers long，is a large river in south China．In addition to those bestowed by nature，China has a famous man-made river—the Grand Canal，running from Beijing in the north to Hangzhou in Zhejiang Province in the south．Work first began on the Grand Canal as early as in the 5th century B．C．It links five major rivers:the Haihe River，Yellow River，Huaihe River，Yangtze River and Qiantang River．With a total length of 1，801 kilometers，the Grand Canal is the longest as well as the oldest manmade waterway in the world．

5.Wildlife

China is one of the countries with the greatest diversity of wildlife in the world． There are more than 6，266 species of vertebrates，10%of the world's total．Among them，2，404 are terrestrial and 3，862 fishes．There are more than 100 wild animal species unique to China including such well-known rare animals as the giant panda，golden-haired monkey，South China tiger，brown-eared pheasant，red-crowned crane，crested ibis，Yangtze River dolphin，takin，Chinese Alligator and so on．

China lies in two of the world's major zoogeographic regions，the Palaearctic and the Oriental．The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau，Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia autonomous regions，northeastern China，and all areas north of the Yellow River are in the Palaearctic region．Central，southern，and southwest China lie in the Oriental region．In the Palaearctic zone，many important mammals are found such as the river fox，horse，camel，tapir，mouse hare，hamster，and jerboa．Among the species found in the Oriental region are the civet cat，Chinese pangolin，bamboo rat，tree shrew，gibbon and various other species of monkeys and apes．Some overlap exists between the two regions because of natural dispersal and migration，and deer or antelope，bears，wolves，pigs，and rodents are found in all of the diverse climatic and geological environments．The famous giant panda is found only in a few mountain ranges in Sichuan，Shaanxi，and Gansu provinces．

A giant panda(see picture 1-2)weighs on average 135 kg and lives on tender bamboo leaves and bamboo shoots．Because it is extremely rare—just over 1，500 are left at present—it has become the symbol of the world's protected wild animals．The red-crowned crane(see picture 1-3)，which could be as tall as 1．2 m，is covered with white feathers，with a distinctive patch of exposed red skin crowning its head and is regarded as a symbol of longevity in East Asia．The Yangtze River dolphin(see picture 1-4)is one of only two species of freshwater whales in the world．In 1980，a male Yangtze River dolphin was caught for the first time in the Yangtze River，which aroused great interest among dolphin researchers worldwide．

6.Population

The population of China，which is the largest in the world，is over 1．3 billion with 56 ethnic groups．

The Chinese population is unevenly distributed and the population density exceeds 100 persons per square kilometers in most parts of the country east of the line drawn between Harbin and Kunming，and it is more than 400 persons per square kilometers in some areas．Population density is below 50 persons per square kilometers in the vast region west of the line，and in many areas it is less than one person per square kilometers．The eastern part of China is densely populated，while the western part is sparsely populated．

The population of the Han nationality is the largest，accounting for over 91%of the national total．The Zhuang nationality(see picture 1-5)population is over 16 million，and coming next are the populations of the Manchu，Hui，Uygur(see picture 1-6)，Miao(see picture 1-7)，Yi，Tujia，Mongol，Tibetan，Buyi，Dong，Yao， Korean，Bai，Hani，Kazak，Li and Dai nationalities．The population of each of these ethnic groups exceeds one million．That of the smallest ethnic minorities comes to only a few thousands．

The Han population is distributed over vast regions，but most of it is concentrated in eastern China．The areas in which ethnic minority peoples dwell in compact communities are，for the most part，located in Southwest，Northwest and Northeast China that make up more than half of Chinese territory．The populations of many ethnic groups are relatively concentrated in some areas，though many of their members are scattered all over the country．Such a distribution pattern is conducive to economic and cultural exchanges among the nationalities．This has given rise to a relationship of mutual interdependence and an unbreakable link of friendship among the nationalities in China．

The Han people have their own spoken and written language，known as the Chinese language，which is commonly used throughout China．The Hui and Manchu ethnic groups also use the Han(Chinese)language．The other 53 ethnic groups use their own spoken languages and 23 ethnic groups have their own written languages．

Word Bank

the Pamirs帕米尔高原

China's continental sea中国的内海

archipelagoes群岛

peninsulas半岛

topography地形，地形学

precipitation降水量

sorghum高粱

flax亚麻

sugar beet甜菜

conifers针叶树

larch落叶松

Olga Bay larch长白落叶松

white birch白桦

Northeast China ash水曲柳

dragon spruce云杉

teak柚木

red sandalwood紫檀

camphor tree樟树

nanmu楠木

tungsten钨

antimony锑

rare earth稀土

molybdenum钼

vanadium钒

titanium钛

lead-zinc铅锌

phosphorus磷

asbestos石棉

sulfur硫黄

terrestrial vertebrates陆栖脊椎动物

red ibis朱鹮，朱鹭

takin羚牛

Palaearctic古北区的

tapir貘

hamster仓鼠

jerboa跳鼠

civet cat麝香猫，香猫

pangolin穿山甲

tree shrew树鼩

gibbon长臂猿

red-crowned crane丹顶鹤

参考译文

中华人民共和国，简称中国，幅员辽阔，历史悠久，资源丰富，景色优美，文化遗产星光璀璨，民族习俗多姿多彩。中华民族在人类社会早期便创造了光辉灿烂的文明。指南针、火药、造纸术和活字印刷术的发明对世界人类进步产生了深远影响;万里长城、京杭大运河等浩瀚工程也被誉为世界工程史上的丰功伟绩。

1.地理位置与领土

1)地理位置

中国位于亚洲大陆东部、太平洋西岸。陆地面积约960万平方千米，相当于整个欧洲大陆，是亚洲面积最大的国家，也是世界上领土面积仅次于俄罗斯和加拿大的第三大国家。(见图1-1)

2)领土

中国领土东起黑龙江与乌苏里江汇合处，西到帕米尔高原，东西相距约5 200千米。北起漠河以北的黑龙江江心，南到南沙群岛南端的曾母暗沙，南北相距约5 500千米。

中国陆地边界长达2．28万千米，东邻朝鲜民主主义人民共和国，北邻蒙古，东北邻俄罗斯，西北邻哈萨克斯坦、吉尔吉斯斯坦、塔吉克斯坦，西部和西南部与阿富汗、巴基斯坦、印度、尼泊尔、不丹等国家接壤，南部与缅甸、老挝和越南相连。东部和东南部同韩国、日本、菲律宾、文莱、马来西亚和印度尼西亚隔海相望。

3)海域和岛屿

中国陆地东部与南部濒临渤海、黄海、东海和南海。渤海为中国的内海，黄海、东海和南海是太平洋的边缘海。中国陆地海岸线全长约1．8万千米。海岸地势平坦，多优良港湾，且多为终年不冻港。

中国海域面积为473万平方千米。在中国海域上，分布着众多岛屿。其中最大的为台湾岛，面积3．6万平方千米;其次是海南岛，面积3．4万平方千米。东海与南海上群岛众多，舟山群岛便是其中一个。环海岸线上半岛星罗棋布，其中最大的是山东半岛、辽东半岛和雷州半岛。

2.地形

中国地势西高东低，海拔由西而东逐级下降，形成三个阶梯。最高一级阶梯是青藏高原，平均海拔超过4 500米，号称“世界屋脊”。青藏高原向东是较低的第二级阶梯，平均海拔1 000米至2 000米，盆地在此纵横交错。第三阶梯西接大兴安岭、太行山、巫山和雪峰山，东环云贵高原，向东直达海岸。群山交织，多为低海拔山峰，地势下降到海拔500米，仅有少数山峰海拔可至2 000米，平原海拔均在200米以下。

平原地区是中国重要的工农业生产基地和经济中心。自北向南分布着东北平原、华北平原、长江中下游平原以及珠江三角洲。根据地形分类来看，中国山脉面积约占国土面积的33．3%，高原占26．0%，盆地占18．8%，丘陵占9．9%，平原占12．0%。

中国的河流除西南部有几条向南流以外，多数是由西向东流入太平洋。长江是中国第一大河，全长6 300千米，发源于青藏高原的唐古拉山，向东汇入东海，仅次于非洲的尼罗河和南美洲的亚马孙河，为世界第三大河。黄河是中国第二大河，全长5 500千米，向东汇入渤海。长江与黄河都是中国古代文明的发祥地，两河流域文物古迹众多。

3.气候

中国气候类型多样。从南到北分为热带、亚热带、温带和寒带，气候差异明显。例如，南方的海南岛夏季漫长炎热，没有冬季;而东北地区的黑龙江、吉林与辽宁三省冬季的气温则降至零下30摄氏度。

中国的大部分地区位于北温带，气候温和，四季分明，适宜人类居住与生存。大陆性季风气候是中国气候的主要特点。每年9月至次年4月，干寒的冬季风从西伯利亚和蒙古高原吹来，寒冷干燥，南北温差甚大。每年的4月至9月，暖湿的夏季风从东部和南部海洋吹来，普遍高温多雨，南北温差甚小。

内陆降水量从东南向西北逐渐减少，各地年平均降水量因季节不同差异很大。全国年平均降水量为648毫米，较全球陆地年平均降水量800毫米少19%。东南沿海和部分西南地区年降水量可达2 000毫米以上，西北内陆则不到200毫米，而新疆塔里木和吐鲁番盆地以及青海柴达木盆地等地区年降水量仅有50毫米，这些盆地的中心区域年降水量甚至不足25毫米。

4.自然资源

1)耕地、森林、草原

中国耕地、森林、草原面积的绝对数量均居世界前列，但由于人口众多，人均数量却很少。尤其是耕地，仅为世界人均数量的三分之一。

中国现有耕地13 004万公顷。东北平原、华北平原、长江中下游平原、珠江三角洲和四川盆地是耕地分布最为集中的地区。面积35万多平方千米的东北平原是中国第一大平原，大部分是黑色沃土，盛产小麦、玉米、高粱、大豆、亚麻和甜菜。华北平原土层松厚，土质肥沃，盛产小麦、玉米、小米和棉花等。长江中下游平原地势低平，河流和湖泊星罗棋布，是中国主要的水稻、淡水鱼产区，素称“鱼米之乡”，并且盛产茶叶和桑蚕。四川盆地多为紫色土壤，气候暖湿，农作物可四季生长，盛产水稻、油菜和甘蔗。珠江三角洲盛产水稻，每年可收获二至三次。

中国森林面积约为17 500万公顷。东北地区的大兴安岭、小兴安岭和长白山区，是中国最大的天然林区，遍布着望不到边的红松、落叶松、黄花松等针叶林及白桦、橡树、柳树、榆树、水曲柳等阔叶林。其次为西南天然林区，该区主要树种有云杉、冷杉、云南松，还有柚木、紫檀、樟树、楠木等;云南省南部的西双版纳是中国少有的热带阔叶林区，森林植物5 000余种，有“植物王国”之称。

中国的草原面积约40 000万公顷。在从东北到西南绵延3 000多千米的草原带上，分布着多个畜牧业基地。内蒙古草原为中国最大的天然牧场，出产著名的三河马、三河牛和蒙古绵羊。新疆天山南北也是中国重要的天然草场和牲畜良种基地，出产著名的伊犁马和新疆细毛羊。

2)矿产资源

目前，世界上已知的矿产在中国都能找到。中国已经探明储量的矿产有151种，其中钨、锑、稀土、钼、钒和钛的储量居世界之最。其他储量居前列的还有煤炭、铁、铅、锌、铜、银、水银、锡、镍、磷和石棉。

中国煤炭基础储量为3 342亿吨，主要分布在华北、西北、东北、西南地区，尤以新疆、山西、内蒙古最为丰富。铁矿石的基础储量为212．4亿吨，主要分布在东北、华北和西南地区，如辽宁省、河北省东部和四川省西部地区。稀有金属钨尽管在全国19个省和自治区都有探明，但主要储量集中在湖南东南部、江西南部、广东北部、福建西部和广西东部。

中国石油、天然气、油页岩磷和硫黄储量丰富。石油储量集中在西南、东北、华北地区和中国东部大陆架。

3)水资源

淡水资源主要来自河流和湖泊。中国境内湖泊众多，长江中下游地区和青藏高原是湖泊最多的两个地区。前者为淡水湖最集中的地区，主要有鄱阳湖、洞庭湖、太湖、洪泽湖等，其中江西省北部的鄱阳湖最大，面积为3 583平方千米。后者主要分布着咸水湖，有青海湖、纳木错湖、色林湖等，其中以青海省东北部的青海湖最大，面积为4 583平方千米。

河流分为外流河和内流河。注入海洋的外流河，流域面积约占全国陆地总面积的64%。长江、黄河、黑龙江、珠江、辽河、海河、淮河等向东流入太平洋;西藏的雅鲁藏布江向东流出国境再向南注入印度洋，河流的上方是长504．6千米、深6 009米的世界第一大峡谷——雅鲁藏布江大峡谷;新疆的额尔齐斯河则向北流出国境注入北冰洋。流入内陆湖或消失于沙漠、盐滩之中的内流河，流域面积约占全国陆地总面积的36%。新疆南部的塔里木河是中国最长的内流河，全长2 179千米。

长江是中国第一大河，全长6 300千米，仅次于非洲的尼罗河和南美洲的亚马孙河，为世界第三大河。其上游穿行于高山深谷之间，蕴藏着丰富的水力资源。长江也是中国东西水上运输的大动脉，天然河道优越，有“黄金水道”之称。长江中下游地区气候温暖湿润、雨量充沛、土地肥沃，是中国重要的农业区。

黄河为中国第二长河，全长5 500千米。黄河流域牧场丰美、农业发达、矿藏富饶，是中国古代文明的发祥地之一。

黑龙江是中国北部的大河，全长4 350千米，其中有3 420千米流经中国境内;珠江为中国南部的大河，全长2 214千米。除天然河流外，中国还有一条著名的人工河，那就是贯穿南北的大运河。它始凿于公元前五世纪，北起北京，南抵浙江杭州，连通海河、黄河、淮河、长江、钱塘江五大水系，全长1 801千米，是世界上开凿最早、最长的人工河。

5.野生动物

中国是世界上野生动物种类最多的国家之一，仅脊椎动物就有6 266多种，约占世界脊椎动物种类的10%，其中陆栖脊椎动物2 404种，鱼类3 862种。大熊猫、金丝猴、华南虎、褐马鸡、丹顶鹤、朱鹭、白鳍豚、羚牛和扬子鳄等百余种中国特产的珍稀野生动物闻名于世。

中国位于世界两大主要动物地理学区域，古北区和东洋区。青藏高原、新疆和内蒙古自治区、东北地区以及整个黄河以北地区都属于古北区。华中、华南和西南地区属于东洋区。在古北区生存的哺乳动物有狐狸、马、骆驼、貘、鼠兔、仓鼠和跳鼠等。东洋区发现的物种包括麝猫、穿山甲、竹鼠、树鼩、长臂猿以及其他各类猿猴物种等。由于自然分布和迁徙等原因，一个物种会同时生存在两个区域。鹿、羚羊、熊、狼、猪和啮齿类动物生活在不同气候和地理环境中，著名的大熊猫仅在四川、陕西和甘肃的少数山区可见。

大熊猫(见图1-2)体重可达135千克，靠吃嫩竹和竹笋为生。目前只剩下1 500余只，由于极其珍贵，已成为世界受保护野生动物的标志。丹顶鹤(见图1-3)，体长可达1．2米，身上覆盖着白色羽毛，头顶上长着一小块丹红色的裸露皮肤，在东亚地区被视为“长寿”的象征。白鳍豚(见图1-4)是世界上仅有的两种淡水鲸类之一。1980年首次在长江流域捕获一头雄性白鳍豚，引起了世界豚类研究界的极大兴趣。

6.人口

中国是世界上人口最多的国家，全国总人口超过13亿，由56个不同的民族构成。

中国人口分布很不均匀，以哈尔滨和昆明两点画线为界，以东大部分地区人口密度超过100人/平方千米，个别地区超过400人/平方千米;以西很多地区不足1人/平方千米。中国东部人口稠密，西部地广人稀。

汉族人口最多，占全国总人口的91%以上。壮族(见图1-5)人口超过1 600万。满族、回族、维吾尔族(见图1-6)、苗族(见图1-7)、彝族、土家族、蒙古族、藏族、布依族、侗族、瑶族、朝鲜族、哈尼族、哈萨克族、黎族和傣族人口总数都超过100万。人口最少的少数民族只有几千人。

汉族分布广泛，但主要集中在中国东部。少数民族聚集地大多位于西南地区、西北地区和东北地区，占中国国土总面积的二分之一。尽管各个少数民族分布在全国各地，但大部分少数民族居住地相对集中。这种分布模式有益于民族间的经济文化交流，形成了各民族间的相互依存和密切联系。

汉族的语言和文字是中国通用的语言和文字，回族和满族也使用汉语。其余53个民族都使用本民族的语言，23个民族有自己的文字。

Exercises

Section A　Thought-provoking questions

1．What are the characteristics of the topography of China？

2．Generally speaking，how many climate zones are there in China？

3．What can be included in natural resources of China？

4．Can you name at least 15 ethnic minority groups in China？

CWCA(China Wildlife Conservation Association)，founded in December 1983，in Beijing，is a nonprofit national organization under the framework of China Science Association．As the largest　1　conservation organization in China，CWCA became one of the nongovernmental organizations of International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources，IUCN．So far，CWCA has 31　2　and 622 regional branches through out China with over 200 thousand members who love wildlife and work on wildlife　3　，scientific research，wildlife breeding and domestication，natural conservation and so on．The mission of the CWCA is to promote sustainable development of China's wildlife．

There still exists a bad habit of eating wildlife in China，which leads to disturbance on ecological balance．At the end of 1999，CWCA　4　a survey on status of eating wildlife．According to the obtained result，CWCA suggested that the public not eat wildlife and set a new　5　fashion．Many cooks try to be the Green Cuisine Ambassador，refusing to cook wildlife any more．So far，CWCA successfully collected signature from over 300，000 cooks and the sum is expected to increase to one million by the end of 2008．More and more people are joining in our efforts and activities，and it is believed to be of great help to protect the wildlife in China．

※Heaven is eternal，the Ear th ever last ing.How come they to be so？It is because they do not foster their own l ives.That is why they l ive so long.

From Laozi:Dao De Jing

(天地长久，天地所以能长且久者，以其不自生，故能长生。)

——老子·《道德经》

※Never embark on a vain cause nor commi t yoursel f to any undeserving project.

From Guan Zhong:Guanzi

(不作无补之功，不为无益之事。)

——管仲·《管子》