North China Plain
China's largest plain, located in Northeast China.
The Northeast China Plain, also known as the Songliao Plain, Manchurian Plain, or Northeast Plain, is located in Northeast China. It lies between the Greater and Lesser Khingan and Changbai mountains, ending at the coast at Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea. Covering 350,000 km², it is China's largest plain, with an elevation of lower than 200 meters, and less than 100 meters to the southwest. The Songhua, Nen, and Liao Rivers run through the plain.
- Area
- 350,000 km²
- Elevation
- lower than 200 meters, and less than 100 meters to the southwest
- Location
- Northeast China, between the Greater and Lesser Khingan and Changbai mountains,
- Major river
- Songhua, Nen, and Liao Rivers
- Agricultural products
- wheat, corn, soybeans, upland rice, sugar beets, sunflowers, sorghum, and flax
Lore & Background
The Northeast Plain includes the Songnen Plain in the north, the Liaohe Plain in the south, and the Sanjiang Plain in the northeast. The Songnen Plain was formed by the Songhua and alluvial soils from the Nen. The Liaohe Plain, located in the hilly areas near Changchun, was created by the separation of watersheds of the Songhua and Liao, which are collectively known as the Liaohe Plain. The Sanjiang Plain, at the confluence of the Songhua, Amur, and Ussuri Rivers, was originally a swamp known as the 'Great Northern Wilderness', becoming a food-producing area after reclamation. The original wetland area of the Sanjiang Plain has been greatly reduced. The Northeast Plain was inhabited by Sushen ethnic groups since the Zhou Dynastic period, up to and including the Jurchen people, who were semi-nomadic. Large scale Han migration occurred during the Qing dynasty, in a process called Chuang Guandong, intensifying during the reign of Guangxu Emperor in the late 19th century, and bringing with them large scale agriculture.
Reader's Guide
The Northeast Plain is suitable for mechanized farming, with thick and fertile soil and extensive amounts of arable land. The plain is a major Chernozem-producing region of the world. Huge areas are planted with wheat, corn, soybeans, upland rice, sugar beets, sunflowers, sorghum, and flax. The landscape is rich in resources such as iron ore, coal, and oil. After 1949, land reclamation began on the plain and state farms were established. There are very few trees on this landscape that have not been planted, typically poplars in long rows along roads, or on either side of the train tracks. There are not many fences on the landscape, no long running fences, though there are many wooden or stone fences adjacent to the houses. There is also much wetland, vast marshes, and many areas that are subject to flooding.
Did You Know?
- The Northeast Plain is China's largest plain, covering 350,000 km².
- The Sanjiang Plain was originally a swamp known as the 'Great Northern Wilderness'.
- The plain is a major Chernozem-producing region of the world.
- Large scale Han migration during the Qing dynasty was called Chuang Guandong.
- After 1949, land reclamation began on the plain and state farms were established.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the North China Plain?
It is China's largest alluvial plain, a vast downfaulted rift basin that developed during the late Paleogene and Neogene periods. Millennia of Yellow River sediment further shaped its surface, leaving a region that is mostly under 50 metres above sea level.
Where exactly is the North China Plain located?
It stretches across much of Henan, Hebei, Shandong, and the northern portions of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. The plain is ringed on the landward side by the Yanshan, Taihang, and Dabie Mountains, while the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea form its eastern edge.
Why is the North China Plain considered so important in Chinese history?
It is widely regarded as the birthplace of Han Chinese civilization and the region from which the Han people and early Chinese political structures emerged. Its flat, fertile geography made it a natural seat of political power for centuries, hosting cities such as Luoyang, Kaifeng, and Beijing.
What agricultural products does the North China Plain produce?
The plain is a major grower of wheat, maize, sorghum, and millet, as well as peanuts, sesame seed, cotton, and a wide variety of vegetables. Its deep alluvial soils and extremely flat terrain make it one of China's most productive grain-growing regions.
How large is the North China Plain and what is its typical elevation?
The plain covers roughly 409,500 square kilometres (about 158,100 square miles). Most of its surface sits below 50 metres (160 ft) above sea level, giving it an exceptionally flat character that supports dense settlement and large-scale farming.
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