China - Animal

CHINA - ANIMAL Profusion of vegetation and variety of relief have fostered the development of a fauna of great diversity and have permitted the survival of animals elsewhere extinct. The diversity of the animal life is greatest in the ranges and valleys of remote western China and here mainly occur the forms peculiar to the country. Among these are the panda or cat-bear of the Tibetan border, the takin or goat-antelope of the Tsin-ling country, numerous species of pheasants and laughing thrushes, the little Yangtze alligator (the only surviving alligator of the Old World), the giant salamander of central and south China, and several members of the carp family for which China seems to have been one of the chief centres of dispersal. The faunistic provinces are much less clearly defined than the botanical. While in north China the steppe animals have Central Asian and the forest animals Siberian affinities, and into south China, Indian and Malayan forms have penetrated, in the Yang-tze valley a Palaearctic fauna persists on the mountain ranges, but the valleys between harbour the tropical oriental fauna. Although Palaearctic, the animal life of these ranges is Himalayan in its affinities whereas that of north China is Mongolian and Siberian. The Tsin-ling make a sharp divide between the forms inhabiting cool temperate and warm temperate latitudes in fauna as well as in flora. Owing to this overlap, increased by interpenetration of ranges and valleys, the Yang-tze valley has a varied fauna as well as a rich vegeta tion.

Summary.

From the data discussed under the previous head ings it is possible to summarize the essential characteristics of each of the great natural divisions into which China falls from the standpoint of physical geography. Such a synthetic view is extremely helpful to the understanding of the human and eco nomic conditions discussed in later sections : Manchuria and Inner Mongolia which lie beyond the Great Wall, the historic frontier of China Proper, are excluded from this summary.

I. North China.

A very distinctive major division. Natural limits: On the north-west and north the belt of scarps separating the northern apex of the plain from the rolling but relatively level Mongolian plateau. The outermost scarps, followed by the Great Wall, constitute a marked boundary. On the south-west and south the Tsin-ling-shan continued by the Funiu-shan and Hwai yang-shan, forming the most decisive climatic, vegetational and economic divide in all China. To the south-east no clear de limitation, but historically the Hwai marshes were a great barrier. Provinces within this natural division: Chih-li (Hopeh), Shan tung, Shansi, most of Shensi and Honan, northern Anhwei, northern Kiangsu.

Essential characteristics: Light and mainly fertile soils, chiefly loess and alluvium: Cold, severe and dry winters with strong winds, often bringing dust storms from the north-west. Summers hot with a somewhat short rainy season; rainfall normally suffi cient for agriculture but liable to fail. Rivers of little use for navigation (hence transport mainly by mule- or horse-drawn vehicles on sandy roads) and peculiarly liable to flood. Agriculture largely suspended in winter and precarious because of drought and flood. Famines common. Natural vegetation and cultivated products mainly "temperate." Essentially treeless.

Orientation of Region: Open historically to the mass move ments of nomadic hordes from both Mongolia and Manchuria.

Chief sub-regions within the major division: loess plateau and associated basins, alluvial plain, Shantung highlands.

II. The Basin of the Lower Yang-tze.

Natural Limits: On the north the Tsin-ling-shan and its easterly continuations; on the south the Nan-shan (or Nan-ling), the divide between the Yang-tze and the Sikiang, and on the south-east the series of ranges known collectively as the Tayu-shan, the divide between the Yang-tze and the independent coast streams. On the west the Yang-tze gorges above Ichang.

Provinces included within this natural division: Hupeh and adjacent portions of south Shensi and south-west Honan, southern An-Hwei, southern Kiang-su with the northern fringe of Che kiang, Kiang-si and Hunan.

Essential characteristics: Rich alluvial basins and valleys, sepa rated by broken, hilly country, still in part forested. Winters mild to cool, with some cyclonic rains. Summers hot and wet. Meeting-ground of temperate and sub-tropical species, pines, chestnuts, maples on the one hand and some palms, camphor woods, etc., on the other. Basis for a very wide range of culti vated products, northern cereals in winter, rice, cotton and tea in summer. Agricultural activity continuous throughout the year. A magnificent system of natural waterways.

Orientation of Region: The heart of China and the region most in touch with all other parts of the country.

Sub-regions within the major division: Numerous, the two most important being the Yang-tze delta and the Central (Hupeh) basin.

III. The Red Basin of

Szechwan.—Natural Limits: Clearly Iii. The Red Basin of Szechwan.—Natural Limits: Clearly defined on all sides by lofty mountain chains. (Tapa-shan on north and north-east, Szechwanese Alps on north-west, west and south-west) or high plateau edge (Kweichow plateau on south) and steep scarps (south-east Szechwan).

Provinces included within this natural division: The whole of Szechwan save its high mountainous margins.

Essential characteristics: A large upland basin of red sand stone, dissected by river action into uplands and broad valleys whose sides lend themselves to extensive terracing. Climatic con ditions similar to those of the lower Yang-tze, but with marked tendency to fog and cloudiness and very equable temperature regime. Rainfall assured. Famines due to drought or flood rare. Vegetation shows admixture of Himalayan forms. Range and character of cultivated products similar to those of Lower Yang-tze.

Orientation of Region: Isolated and self-contained. Slight and difficult contact with the rest of China by the Yang-tze gorges. • The chief supply-base for eastern Tibet.

IV. South-east

China.—Natural limits: The southern water shed of the Yang-tze, as defined above, on the north, the high edge of the Kweichow plateau on the west and the south China sea on the south and south-east.

Provinces included within this natural division: The maritime provinces of Chekiang (except northern fringe), Fukien and Kwangtung together with Lower Kwangsi.

Essential characteristics: A core of very ancient rocks, crumpled into prominent ridges trending south-west-north-east ; a sea of mountains, valleys and small basins. A long, faulted coastline, highly articulated, with many independent rivers, mostly un navigable save in their lower courses. Topography fosters exist ence of many separate economic nuclei and great variety of dialects. Rainfall high and dry season short. Climate sub-tropical to tropical in the basins and lower valleys, permitting of two or more rice-crops, but winters in the highlands relatively cool.

Orientation of Region: Essentially maritime ; close connections with Indo-China and Malaya; communications with rest of China on landward side very difficult.

Sub-regions: Numerous, including Canton delta and lower Si-kiang valley, Swatow, Amoy and Foochow valley basins.

V. South-west

China.—Natural limits: On the north the Red basin, on north-west and west the lofty north-south ranges con tinuing the Szechwanese Alps through western Yunnan. On the north-east the basin of the lower Yang-tze ; on the south-east the upper basin of the Si-kiang. The natural limits to south and south-west are beyond the political frontier of China, thus in cluding within this natural region much of the Shan plateau of upper Burma and the Laos country of northern Siam.

Provinces included within this natural division: Kweichow, cen tral and eastern Yunnan and western borders of Kwang-si.

Essential characteristics: A high tableland of sedimentary rocks, trenched by deeply incised valleys with torrential streams. Great climatic contrast between temperate character of high plateaux and sub-tropical to tropical conditions of valleys with jungle vegetation. Very distinctive plant species.

Orientation of Region: Very isolated and unlike the Red basin not in itself a focus. Essentially a borderland, difficult of access from any direction. Easiest maritime connection with Gulf of Tongking (French Indo-China) but on landward side the best approaches, although very tortuous, are from lower Yang-tze and Szechwan.