Where in the world is China?

China is a large country located on the continent of Asia.For thousands of years, China was separated from other people by oceans, mountains, and deserts.

China is the 3rd largest country in the world!

ClimateBecause China is such a large country, it has more than one climate. Like the United States, China has different seasons.Winds called monsoons change the weather by blowing dry or wet air across china.

LandChina is the third largest country in the world.Within its borders, China has hills, forests, mountains, and deserts.China has some of the world’s highest mountains and longest rivers.

Plant LifeForest plants and desert plants can be found in China.The land along the rivers is good for growing crops such as rice, wheat, and corn.

TerracesMuch of the land in China was too hilly or too dry to grow large amounts of food.Ancient Chinese farmers made the most of the land by building terraces.Terraces-flat ledges cut into hillsides

Great WallOne of the most lasting Chinese contributions is the Great Wall.It was built to protect China’s northern border from invading tribes.Made of pounded earth covered with stonesLength of wall was broken at intervals by watchtowersStretches 3,700 miles

Written LanguageThe Chinese language is written with letters called characters. There are about 3,000 characters.Each is a picture that stands for a sound or an idea.Form of art and communication

InventionsThe ancient Chinese invented many things to improve their daily lives.

•Kite•Silk cloth, •Compass, •Bronze•Fireworks

Compass

The ancient Chinese understood how magnets worked.They floated them in water to tell directions.They made compasses to help sailors navigate their ships.

BronzeThe first metal the Chinese learned to use was bronze, a mixture of copper, tin, and lead.They used it to make cooking pots, tools, and weapons.

FireworksFireworks were also invented by the Chinese. They used fireworks to scare enemies