China - Natural Conditions

Climate & Seasons
China experiences a diverse range of climatic conditions in different parts of the country, from scorching heat in Southern Wuhan, Chongqing & Nanjing, to subzero temperatures in northern Beijing, Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang. The climatic variance is further enhanced by the march of the seasons, each lasting about three months. Though blessed with the four seasons, some parts of China are susceptible to more extreme weather conditions, including floods, typhoons, droughts and earthquakes.
Terrain, Flora & Fauna
On the vast land of China lie many different forms of topography like deserts (in the west), high plateaus, plains, deltas and most prominently, mountains. The variety of landscapes has cultivated a huge array of flora and fauna.
Among the many species found in Chinese forests, the bamboo is perhaps the most famous. This plant is the main food source of the giant panda and a useful raw material. Other well-known plants found in China include the lotus, magnolia, maple, ginkgo and spruce.
The giant panda is one of the most widely recognized symbols of China. The natural habitat for this national treasure is the temperate zone in central China, where bamboo grows in abundance. The giant panda is an endangered species. Currently only about 1,000 are left in the wilderness while over a hundred are living in Chinese zoos. Other endangered animals are the South China Tiger, Snow Leopard, Changjiang Dolphin and the Red-Crowned Crane.