Population Religion Capital Location China is situated in eastern Asia on the western shore of the Pacific Ocean, with an area of 9.6 million square kilometers. China's continental coastline extends for about 18,000 kilometers, and its vast sea surface is studded with more than 5,000 islands, of which Taiwan and Hainan are the largest. Rivers China's land drops off in escarpments eastward to the ocean, letting in humid air current and leading many rivers eastward.
China has beautiful scenery, with mountains and ranges, highlands, plains, basins, and hills.
The highlands and hill regions account for 65 percent of the country's total land mass, and there are more than 2,000 lakes. Climate China is characterized by a continental climate. The latitude spans nearly 50 degrees. The greater part of the Chinese territory is situated in the Temperate Zone, its southern part in the tropical and subtropical zones, and its northern part near the Frigid Zone. Temperatures differ therefore rather strikingly across the country.