Central Asia & North Asia

China dominates eastern Asia in terms of size and population. Although it is one country, it is full of ethnic and cultural diversity. To its north, we have Mongolia and Russia (Siberia). To its east lie Japan, North Korea and South Korea. To the south are the countries of South East Asia. To the west are the countries of the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East.

Climate

China�s climate is not dissimilar to that of the continental United States. In such a large country you would expect to encounter a great variety of climate, particularly as you travel from south to north.

In winter, cold dry winds blow out of the high-pressure system of central Siberia, bringing low temperatures to all regions north of the Yangtze River and drought to many parts of the country.

The southern half of the country has a sub-tropical climate, with long, hot and humid summers. Daytime temperatures in the Yangtze basin average 26�C and it can be very hot between April and October. Average winter temperatures are around 4�C along the Yangtze River.

In the southwest, the mountainous plateaus and basins also have a sub-tropical climate, with considerable local variation. As a result of higher elevations, summers are cooler, and because of protection from northerly winds, winters are milder.

Geography

There is a wide array of terrain in such a large area. Mongolia contains alpine lakes and vast grasslands, known as steppes. There is much desert as we head south towards China. China has also some of the world�s largest and most inhospitable deserts to its west. The country�s topography varies from mountainous regions with towering peaks to endless, flat plains. Most of its rivers, including the mighty Yangtze, flow eastwards.

Culture

Around half of China is populated by Han Chinese, and the rest by Uighurs, Mongols, Tibetans, and numerous minority ethnic groups such as Bai and Naxi. This incredible ethnic diversity is one of the most interesting aspects of the country, particularly in the southwest provinces, such as Yunnan and Sichuan. Other races in the region include Japanese, Koreans and Manchurians.

Wildlife

Many unique species of wildlife still survive in this region, despite the pressures being brought upon by the encroachment of human beings. However it is very hard to spot wildlife in most places, due to the elusive nature of the species concerned and the often-rugged terrain that they live in. It is also a sad fact that many of these animals are gravely endangered. Most well-known of the many species still surviving include giant panda, golden monkey, red panda and snow leopard.