Map of China: east–west divide, population and economic regions
GeographyRegions & CountriesAges 16–17
Use it with your class: students open it from a link or a QR code, with no account needed.
Next in Regions & Countries
A hand-drawn map of China built from longitude/latitude coordinates, split into four economic regions — East, Central, West and Northeast — with the 105°E meridian as the natural east–west dividing line. Click a region to see its area, population from the 2020 national census and share of GDP; drag the year slider from 1980 to 2020 to watch national population growth slow under the effect of population policy. Students see clearly that the West covers nearly three-quarters of the area but holds only just over a quarter of the population and one-fifth of GDP.
Lesson: China's geographic location, natural conditions, population, society and economy
What it shows
China shows one of the sharpest east–west contrasts of any large country. West of about 105°E lie high mountains, the Tibetan Plateau, basins and deserts with a dry continental climate; to the east are broad plains built by the Yellow River and the Yangtze, with a rainy monsoon climate. Population and economic activity follow this physical divide: the Western region covers nearly three-quarters of the area but holds just over a quarter of the people and about a fifth of GDP. National population figures from 1980 to 2020 show how population policy slowed growth.
How to use
Start on the Physical layer and click the four regions to compare their area, then switch to Population and Economy and compare their shares. Turn on Show 105°E meridian and Show major cities and special economic zones to see how settlement and investment cluster in the east. Press Run, or drag the Year slider, to follow national population from 1980 to 2020 and read the policy note for each year. Whole country returns to the overview.
Parameters you can change
- Data layer Physical – area of each region, Population – 2020 population, Economy – share of GDP
- Year for national population data Year 1980, Year 1990, Year 2000, Year 2010, Year 2020
- Selected region View whole country, Eastern region, Central region, Western region, Northeast region
- Show major cities and special economic zones
- Show 105°E meridian
Questions to explore
- What share of China's population lives in the Western region, compared with its share of the area?
- Where are the special economic zones located, and why were they placed there?
- How did China's population growth change between 1980 and 2020, and which policies influenced it?
