China's Heartland Only about 10 percent of China's land is suitable for farming. Much of the land lies within the small plain between the Huang He and the Chang Jiang in eastern China. This plain, known as the North China Plain, is China's Heartland. Throughout China's long history, its political boundaries have expanded and contracted depending on the strength or weakness of its ruling families. Yet the Heartland of China remained the center of its civilization.

Natural barriers somewhat isolated ancient China from all other civilizations. The Yellow Sea, the East China Sea, and the Pacific Ocean lay to China's east. Mountain ranges and deserts dominate about two-thirds of China's landmass. In west China lay the Taklimakan (TAH•kluh•muh•KAHN) Desert and the icy 15,000-foot Plateau of Tibet. To the southwest are the Himalayas. And to the north are the desolate Gobi Desert and the Mongolian Plateau.

River Systems Two major river systems flow from the mountainous west to the Pacific Ocean. The Huang He (hwahng•HUH), also known as the Yellow River, is found north. In central China, the Chang Jiang (chang•jyhang), also called the Yangtze (yang•SEE), flows east to the Yellow Sea. The Huang He, whose name means "yellow river," deposits vast amounts of yellowish silt when it overflows its banks. This silt is fertile soil called loess (LOH•uhs), blown by the winds from deserts to the west and north. China faced the dangers of floods—but its geographic isolation posed its challenges.