This chapter mainly covers the data on China's divisions of administrative areas, natural conditions and the exploitation and utilization of the natural resources. Natural conditions cover land area, mountain ranges, rivers, ocean and meteorological phenomena. Data on ocean are taken from the China Oceanic Statistics Yearbook complied by the State Oceanic Administration, and the meteorological data are provided by China Meteorological Bureau.
Natural resources cover land, climate, forest, water conservancy and mineral resources.
Data on forest are prepared according to data in the communiqu of the surveys conducted by the Ministry of Forestry in 1988-1992. Data on water conservancy are provided by the Ministry of Water Conservancy. Data on mineral resources are provided by the Ministry of Land and Resources.