How many of these mind-blowing Chinese landscapes do you know?

We often say that China is a vast land with abundant resources.
From a geographical perspective,
this statement is not an exaggeration at all.

Each place has its own landscape and charm.
Across the vast expanse of China,
even similar types of scenery
take on unique local flavors
in different regions.

Today, Geo-Jun will not only show you beautiful sights from around the country
but also has a quick quiz waiting for you to take on.

Where is this?

Tap to see the answer

This is the south shore of Sayram Lake in the Bortala Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang. Sayram Lake lies in a highland basin at the northern foot of the Tianshan Mountains, making it the highest-altitude and largest alpine cold-water lake in Xinjiang.

The Grasslands

It’s not all a sweeping vista of green grass

In geography, based on differences in climate and vegetation, grasslands are classified into various types, such as meadow steppe, typical steppe, desert steppe, and alpine steppe. The lives of herders in different geographical regions also vary greatly.

Many people’s concept of grassland landscapes comes from poetic depictions like “The sky is blue, the wilds are vast, the wind blows the grass low, revealing cattle and sheep.” In terms of scenery, many grasslands share similar features: green grass, winding rivers, cattle and sheep, herders… Aside from their different geographic coordinates, it’s hard to say exactly what distinguishes these grasslands from one another.

The Gannan草原 wetland is one of the larger and more representative high-cold swamp wetlands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Seen from above, this area not only boasts vast grasslands but also scattered lakes and winding river bends.

Located in the Ili River Valley of Xinjiang, Kalajun overturns the typical “fatigue” of grasslands with monotonous colors and landscapes, showcasing the mountain grassland aesthetics represented by Kalajun. Thus, it defines a new grassland landscape — a “stereoscopic grassland” that integrates different times, spaces, and colors and is easy to enjoy.

In Nagqu Prefecture, Tibet, the poetic line “the wind blows low, revealing cattle and sheep” can no longer be evoked. Compared to the rich and mild temperate grasslands, the average altitude here is over 3,000 meters higher, with severe cold and low oxygen, dry climate, and more than half the year being a cold, windy dry season. As a result, a unique type of grassland has taken root here — alpine grasslands are mainly distributed across the vast and flat western region, being the dominant grassland type. Though the howling wind is fiercer, the grass on the boundless wilderness does not bow low — because it is too short and sparse.

★ Quiz Time ★

What are the following images of?

Where is this

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The autumn grasslands of Xilingol’s Ujimqin in Inner Mongolia present a unique vision of a hidden paradise found only in northern China.

Where is this

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The western part of the Kalajun Grassland in the Yili River Valley of Xinjiang is a vast expanse of gently undulating planation surfaces with graceful curves, which locals call the “Body Grassland.” The Tianshan Mountains have extensively developed three levels of planation surfaces, leveling the multi-phase tectonic forms and folded rock layers from the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. The Kalajun Grassland is mainly located on the third-level planation surface of the Tianshan Mountains. After continuous erosion by external forces, these planation surfaces have formed an undulating, ravine-crossed landscape. Their elegant curves, highlighted by light and shadow, have also become a favorite subject for photographers.

Where is this?

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In people’s impression, Tibet’s Naqu Grassland often appears as a vast, desolate wilderness, but in reality, in some areas, you can also see lush pastures and a beautiful landscape covered in flowers. The pink-and-white flower sea stretching to the horizon in the picture is dominated by a flower with a cute name, “Lamb Flower,” named for its pinkish-white color and round shape, resembling newborn lambs.

Lakes

Beyond Blue, How Many Colors Are There?

China is vast, with numerous lakes—whether in high plateaus and mountains or low plains, in the humid east or the arid northwest, natural lakes are scattered everywhere. Even deep within deserts, where drought and scarce rainfall prevail all year round, lakes can still be found.

Geological processes such as crustal movements, volcanic eruptions, sedimentation, and weathering have shaped tens of thousands of lakes across China. The water color of these lakes varies greatly depending on the natural environment they are in.Photo from Chinese National Geography, April 2010

The water color and transparency of Qinghai Lake are unmatched by any of the five major freshwater lakes in the eastern plains. Surrounding the lake are endless grasslands, where shepherds move with their flocks along the shore, like clouds drifting across a blue sky.

According to the China Lake Gazetteer, the lakes in China are divided into five major geographical distribution zones: the Eastern Plains, the Inner Mongolia-Xinjiang Plateau, the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and the Northeast Plains. Most lakes in the Eastern Plains are freshwater, concentrated mainly in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.

Hangzhou’s West Lake is a silted-up inland lake, whose water comes mainly from natural rainfall and mountain springs. The dense vegetation, humid and rainy climate of Jiangnan, along with the folded mountain ranges surrounded by clouds on three sides, all ensure the abundance of West Lake’s water.

Throughout history, the scenery of West Lake has always been so gentle. “The shimmering water at its full is fine when sunny; the misty mountains are also lovely in the rain.” The power of poetry is eternal—it has preserved the beauty of West Lake and, with it, our memories.The Yongjin Bridge on the eastern shore of West Lake

From the Zhejiang Hangzhou supplement of Chinese National Geography

Once a lake forms, it is continuously shaped by external natural factors and internal processes, evolving like a human life with its own birth, aging, sickness, and death. Salt lakes are the product of lakes reaching their old age, a special type of saline lake.

In salt lakes located in open, flat terrain, the lakebed is covered with a layer of salt crust that acts like a mirror coating. The water above is only a shallow layer, and when there is no wind or waves, the surface becomes as smooth as a mirror, creating a “sky mirror” phenomenon.

★ Quiz Time ★

**What are the locations in the following images?**Where is this

Tap to see the answer

Zabuye Salt Lake, located in Zhongba County, Shigatse City, Tibet, has a lake shape somewhat like a gourd, divided into northern and southern parts. The northern lake is relatively full of water, while the southern lake has both solid and liquid states. So on the southern lake of Zabuye Salt Lake, you can see a very perfect “mirror of the sky” landscape, and the scenery around the lake is also very magnificent.

Where is this

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Here is Poyang Lake in Jiangxi. The formation of this vast water-town desert is related to the characteristics of certain sections of the Gan River and Poyang Lake itself—the typical area of the Houtian Desert lies at the big bend where the Gan River and Jin River meet, and its formation is linked to the wind erosion of sandy terraces and sandy high floodplains after vegetation was destroyed. As for the strange sand mountains by the shore of Poyang Lake, their origins are both ancient and modern.

Where is this?

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Xiechi Lake in Yuncheng City, Shanxi is a huge salt lake, also known as a “rose lake.” This image shows that, viewed from above, during the persistent cold weather, the lake’s surface still displays an intoxicating wine-red color, though compared to summer, the hues tend to be more uniform. In the hot summer, higher salinity facilitates the explosive growth of various organisms in the lake, giving the water a diverse array of vibrant colors.

Canyons

The Game Between Rivers and Land

What is a canyon? A valley whose depth exceeds its width and has a “V”-shaped cross-section is called a V-shaped valley, commonly known as a canyon.

This typical definition of a canyon has certain flaws. That’s because it only describes the cross-section of the canyon, without mentioning its longitudinal or planform features—such as how to determine its length, or where its start and end points are.

Some geographers have proposed a supplementary definition: a canyon should have “penetrability.” So-called “penetrability” means that both ends of the canyon open into basins or flatlands. This definition is very meaningful for determining the start and end points of a canyon, as well as its length.The magnificent yet graceful Niqiu River Gorge

Image from China National Geographic, October 2006

The formation of a gorge relies not only on river erosion but also on the uplift of the terrain—that is, the coordination of the landscape. As a result, China’s gorges are mainly concentrated at the transitional zones of the country’s three major topographic steps. For example, at the rise from the third step to the second step, there are the Taihang Mountain Gorge, the Three Gorges, and others.

★ Test Yourself ★

Identify each of the images below****Where is this

Tap to see answer

Located on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang, the Anjihai Grand Canyon is a wonder crafted by nature’s extraordinary workmanship. This low-key river valley, known for its vibrant colors and dense terraces, is truly a breathtaking and magnificent canyon.

Where is this

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After a snowfall and a clear sky, at Huangya Root in Huixian City, Henan, misty clouds linger above the cliff rocks on both sides of the deep Taihang Mountain canyon, creating a fairyland on earth. The Taihang Mountains, located between the second and third tiers of China’s topography, are the mountain range with the most developed meandering canyons (referred to as meandering gorges) in China.

Where is this?

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The image shows Wu Gorge. The Three Gorges have large areas of limestone rock layers distributed on both banks, and Wu Gorge is a typical limestone canyon. Only in karst landform areas can such sharp cliffs appear, because in the karst canyon area of the Three Gorges, the soil layer is thin and there is little sediment. Combined with the strong water transport effect of the Yangtze River, slope deposits and diluvial deposits cannot accumulate at the bottom of the cliffs, allowing them to remain so clean and sharp.

Coastline

The Edge Where Sea and Land Vie for Supremacy

The relentless struggle and fusion between sea and land have shaped the coastline’s soft curves or sharp bends, created rugged reefs or gentle beaches, forged natural wonders, and left behind stories of history and legend.

As a country with a continental coastline stretching over 18,000 kilometers, China boasts every type of coastline found on Earth—from steep, jagged rocky shores to soft, sandy beaches, from mudflats that attract countless seabirds to vibrant mangrove and coral reef coasts teeming with life. In short, if a coastline type exists on this planet, you can find it here.Muddy Coast – Putian, Fujian

The harbor tidal flats in Putian City, Fujian Province, are ideal for farming razor clams. The bays have gentle waves, smooth tidal flow, and a consistent supply of freshwater year-round, creating high-quality soft mud and sandy mud beaches that support clam growth. The photo shows Taihu Village, a traditional fishing village along Meizhou Bay in Putian, where villagers farming razor clams clean the mud during low tide.

In the past, China’s coastline was characterized by the Yangtze River Estuary as a boundary: the northern shoreline was straight, while the southern shoreline was winding. This was linked to the prevalence of flat coastal plains in the north and rocky coasts in the south.

Now, the situation has reversed: the northern shoreline has become winding, while the southern shoreline has grown straighter, and the differences between the two are shrinking. This is one of the findings from a research team led by Hou Xiyong at the Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The reason behind this shift is the rapid increase in artificial coastlines in both the north and south, especially around the Bohai Sea. Here, ports are densely distributed, leading not only to redundant construction and disorderly competition but also transforming originally straight coastlines into “artificial” and “geometric” winding shapes.

★ Test Yourself ★

**Where are each of the following images taken?**Where is this

Tap to see the answer

Luoyang Bridge is a famous historical site in Quanzhou, Fujian. Beneath this cross-sea bridge, the waves once shimmered. But now, the sea is gone, replaced by thousands of acres of mangroves. From the scenic view, Luoyang Bridge over the mangroves looks like a rainbow floating atop green clouds—absolutely beautiful.

Where is this?

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On the side facing the Bohai Sea at the southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, in Daheishi Village, Ganjingzi District, Dalian, there are two beaches locals call Daheishi (Big Black Rock) and Xiaoheishi (Little Black Rock). Daheishi is famous for its beachside bathing area, while nearby Xiaoheishi is a great spot for observing bedrock erosion along the coast. Here, you’ll not only see sea stacks and other formations, but the nearshore rocky reefs also take on a special shape: the bedrock is etched with a series of stone grooves, where the water is clear and the sand is still. The surface of the rocks is smooth and soft, with no sharp edges and a relatively rounded appearance. Coupled with the thick green seaweed covering the rocks, this coastline gains an extra touch of gentle beauty.

Where is this

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The picture shows an exceptionally flat and wide tidal flat in Yancheng, Jiangsu, where the shallow water is calm and still, like a giant mirror of the sky, blending heaven and earth into one. In the distance, a dense flock of birds, like scattered stars, marks the boundary between sky and ground, as the photographer captures this wondrous scene.

Tired of the same old mediocrity around you?

Why not look far away

Otherwise, how would you know

It’s all mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas

Yet the differences are so vast

The 13 questions above

How many did you get right?

Come to the comments section and PK

If you want to learn more about these places

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October 31st, 24:00**“Chinese National Geography”** Issue 10, 2006

• From Greater Shanghai to Mount Everest

• The Canyon Route**“China National Geographic” Issue 03, 2011**

• Many salt lakes, few rose lakes: A “romantic lake” falls from the sky**“China National Geographic” October 2012 Issue**

• Hulunbuir Grassland

• Fertile Lowland Oasis

• New Nomadic EraChina National Geographic****Issue 10, 2013

• Altai Mountains

• Tianshan Mountains

• Junggar Basin

• Tarim BasinChina National Geography, Issue 10, 2020

• Great Changes: China’s Coastal Zone

• Rocky Coast: It Gives Beauty and Freedom—What More Could You Want?China National Geography, Issue 05, 2021

• Many salt lakes, few rose lakes: A “romantic lake” falls from the sky**“Natural History” Issue 04, 2014**

• “Grasslands” · “Mountains” · “Gobi”Chinese Heritage Issue 07, 2014

• Zhangbei, a magical grassland stronghold

• A colorful tapestry on the grassland canvas

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