Abstract
China’s terrain is high in the west and low in the east, with a ladder distribution, complex geological structures, and active neotectonic movement. The landforms are divided into mountains, plateaus, hills, basins, and plains, of which mountains and plateaus account for the largest proportion. The major geomorphic units are the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Inner Mongolia Plateau, Loess Plateau, and Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau; Tarim Basin, Junggar Basin, Qaidam Basin, and Sichuan Basin; Northeast Plain, North China Plain and Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain; Southeast Hilly, Shandong and Liaodong hills. This chapter mainly elaborates the spatial pattern of China’s topographic features and geomorphic structures. It lays a foundation for understanding the formation of China’s geographical environment and the development of regional natural resources.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chen Anze (2011) Karst stone forest landscapes in China. Science Press, Beijing
Economic Geography Research Division, Institute of Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1980) General introduction of China’s agricultural geography. Science Press, Beijing
Editorial Board of Atlas of China Geography (ed) (2011) Atlas of China geography. Encyclopedia of China Publishing House, Beijing
Editorial Committee of Physical Geography of China, Chinese Academy of Sciences (1985) Chinese physical geography (General). Science Press, Beijing
Friedrich Heller, Liu Tung-sheng (1982) Magnetostratigraphical dating of loess deposits in China. Nature 300:431–433
Liu Dongshe, Liu Quan’e (2011) Brief history of China: a brief history of the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia border area government in China. Social Sciences Academic Press, Beijing
Liu Dongsheng (1965) Loess accumulation in China. Science Press, Beijing
Liu Dongsheng et al (1985) Loess and environment. Science Press, Beijing
Liu Shengjia (1996) Geography of China. Higher Education Press, Beijing
Stone Forest Research Group of the Professional Committee of Geology and Geomorphology of the Society of Landscape Architecture in Yunnan Province, Stone Forest Research Group of the Administration of the Lunan Stone Forest Scenic Area (1997) Study on the Lunan stone Forest karst, China. Yunnan Science & Technology Press, Kunming
Sweeting MM (2012) Karst in China: its geomorphology and environment. Springer Science & Business Media
Wang J (2009) Karst records of climate change. Science Press, Beijing
Wang Jing’ai, Zuo Wei (2009) Geographic Atlas of China. Sino Maps Press, Beijing
Wang Y et al (2011) Comprehensive risk prevention: China’s integrated ecology and food safety risks. Science Press, Beijing
Wu H (2008) Cave dwellings in northern Shaanxi Province. China Architecture & Building Press, Beijing
Xu Lihua (2001) Quest for Tibetan Buddhism. Bashu Publishing House, Chengdu
Zhang Xiaofeng (2005) Walk into the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Shaanxi Science and Technology Press, Xi’an
Zheng Du (2001) Regional sustainable development in the 21st century in Western China. Hubei Science & Technology Press, Wuhan
Zheng Y-F, Xiao W-J, Zhao G (2013) Introduction to tectonics of China, 1189–1206. Elsevier
Zhu Xianmo (1989) Loess Plateau soils and agriculture. China Agricultural Press, Beijing
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2022 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wang, J., Liang, S., Shi, P. (2022). Topography and Landforms. In: The Geography of Contemporary China . World Regional Geography Book Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04158-7_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-04158-7_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-04157-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-04158-7
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)