1. Climate, Environmental, and Socioeconomic Characteristics of China

The features of the natural environment in China were described in this chapter, including topography, hydrology and water resources, cryospheric resources, plants, animals and biodiversity, soil types and land resources, and ocean and islands. After that, an eco-geographical region system of depicting zonal distribution of physiographical factors was introduced. China’s climate is governed by its geography and topography, with most of the territory falling in the monsoon zone. The most direct component influencing China’s climate is the East Asian atmospheric circulation (monsoon). Climate zoning in China provides a service for targeted industrial and agricultural activities, and socioeconomic development, and also a scientific basis for climate change adaptation. However, China is susceptible to weather and climatic disasters. As one of the world’s emerging economies, China has experienced rapid and stable socioeconomic development, industrialization, urbanization, and further internationalization since the introduction of reform and opening-up policy, ranking second of gross domestic product (GDP) around the world. At present, China is confronted with two main challenges: addressing climate change in the international arena and protecting its resources and environment with a domestic socioeconomic transition.