What are the key areas of ancient Chinese history? The Guanzhong Plain and the Central Plains! [China Geography and History Part 1]

China is full of famous scenic spots and hidden gems where countless storytelling traditions come alive throughout its long history. Chinese people say that from birth, they cannot eat all Chinese food in a lifetime, learn all the Chinese characters, or see all of China. China's land area is the fourth largest in the world, after Russia, Canada, and the United States, four times the size of the Korean Peninsula. It borders many countries, maintaining a state of tension with constant small and large international disputes. There are about 670 cities, and the names change by era, and the Korean pronunciation of the same Chinese place names also differs, making the geography of China feel very complex to us. For example, Chang'an in one province has now changed to Xi'an, which is called Seosan in Korea. Even for the same city center, there are multiple names and pronunciations. Even if it is slightly difficult, we intend to reduce confusion by providing both historical place names and Korean and Chinese notations together. China's administrative divisions consist of 22 provinces, four municipalities—Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and Chongqing—and five autonomous regions: Xinjiang Uyghur, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Guangxi Zhuang, and Ningxia Hui. Almost all types of terrain are spread out, including mountains, plateaus, hills, basins, plains, and deserts. The Tibetan Plateau accounts for 26% of the total area, and deserts account for 20%. Excluding these, the area actually suitable for living can be said to be about 50%. According to the Tengchong-Heihe Line proposed by geographer Hu Huan, 94% of the total population is concentrated there.