What Are the Key Differences Between Northern and Southern China?
This article is specially produced by Juhuasuan
China has 9.6 million square kilometers of land
And 3 million square kilometers of ocean
On such a vast and expansive territory
Regional differences will be an eternal topic
Among them, the most talked about
Chinese people often identify as northerners or southerners
But rarely call themselves easterners or westerners
People also enthusiastically create all kinds of
Climate: floods in the south, droughts in the north; transportation: boats in the south, horses in the north
Products: oranges in the south, bitter oranges in the north; diet: rice in the south, noodles in the north
Language: diverse in the south, uniform in the north; literature: Songs of the South in the south, Book of Songs in the north
Personality: gentle in the south, straightforward in the north; martial arts: southern fist in the south, northern leg in the north
Southern Emperor and Northern Beggar, Southern Murong and Northern Qiao Feng
Southern Wudang and Northern Shaolin, Southern Wugong and Northern Taihang
So behind this fierce "North-South rivalry"
Who is the real "culprit"?
We must trace it back to the sun 150 million kilometers away
It continuously delivers energy to the Earth
Equivalent to burning 40 million tons of coal every second
But the Earth does not distribute this energy evenly
In low-latitude regions where sunlight strikes directly
The surface receives more energy per unit area
While in high-latitude regions where sunlight strikes obliquely
The energy received per unit area is less
(Illustration of latitudinal zonality, designed by Gong Xiangjie & Chen Ruiting/Planet Research Institute)
The eastern monsoon region has the largest north-south span
From Mohe in the north to Zengmu Ansha in the south
This creates a temperature difference between the north and south
(China's three major natural regions are the Tibetan Plateau alpine region, the northwest arid region, and the eastern monsoon region. Among them, the eastern monsoon region has the largest north-south span, making latitudinal zonality one of the main factors for its internal differences. The map highlights the extent of the eastern monsoon region and marks its January average temperature isotherms, designed by Gong Xiangjie & Chen Ruiting/Planet Research Institute)
The lowest can even reach -52.3°C
(Please view horizontally, snowy landscape of the Greater Khingan Range primeval forest, photographer Liu Zhaoming)
The January average temperature can reach 25-26°C
Already a tropical landscape without winter
(Betel nut plantation in Hainan, photographer Gao Yang)
The eastern monsoon region is divided into 9 temperature zones from south to north
Laying the foundation for China's north-south differences
(Climate zone division of eastern China, designed by Gong Xiangjie & Chen Ruiting/Planet Research Institute)
About 12 times that of terrestrial rocks and soil
Thus when absorbing or releasing the same amount of heat
Rocks and soil experience drastic temperature changes
Thus at roughly the same latitude
Land temperatures in winter are lower than those over the ocean
The pressure caused by temperature differences between land and sea
Drives the atmosphere to circulate between them
(Schematic diagram of East Asian monsoon formation and direction, mapped by Gong Xiangjie & Chen Ruiting/Planet Research Institute)
Sweeping across China from the inland of Asia
Carrying moisture northward from the southeastern coast
Creating differences in precipitation between north and south
(Distribution of annual precipitation changes in eastern China, mapped by Gong Xiangjie & Chen Ruiting/Planet Research Institute)
Annual precipitation can exceed 1600 mm
(Taining Ancient Street, photographer: Lin Daquan)
Also ranges between 800-1600 mm
When the summer monsoon clashes with cold air moving southward
(Rainy season in Nanxun Ancient Town, Huzhou, Zhejiang, photographer: Yang Zhaofu)
Especially in the low-lying Yangtze River Delta region
River network density can exceed 6 km/km²
(Please view horizontally, dense river networks in southern China, photographer: Ling Qiliang)
Annual precipitation drops to only 400-800 mm
River network density generally remains below 0.5 km/km²
less than 1/12 of the Yangtze River Delta region
(Yellow River, photo by Li Heng)
also shaped distinct northern and southern landscapes
rocks of diverse compositions under the scouring of water flow
red sandstone and conglomerate in northern Guangdong's mountainous areas
(please view horizontally, Danxia landform, image credit @VCG)
while Guangxi, Guizhou, and eastern Yunnan
are distributed with 1.3 million square kilometers of carbonate rocks
forming the world's largest karst landscape
(please view horizontally, Huixian in Guilin, Guangxi, karst landform, photo by Huang Yijun)
sediments brought by rivers deposit here
forming layers of sediment 1,000-3,500 meters thick
(on the North China Plain, the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and Beijing-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway run parallel, photo by Shi Yaochen)
originating from the Loess Plateau in the middle reaches of the Yellow River
here lies 100-200 meters thick
loess covering 500,000 square kilometers
the most concentrated and largest loess region in the world
creating a landscape of countless ravines
(Yellow River and the Loess Plateau, photo by Xu Zhaochao)
as well as the boundary between subtropical and warm temperate zones
These boundaries almost coincide within a narrow region
One of the mountain ranges and a water system
Became the natural dividing line between northern and southern China
(Please view horizontally, Qinling Mountains, photographer @ Li Shunwu)
Encountering this unshakable mountain range
Even the north-south traffic had to slow its pace
Further widening the differences in water and heat between north and south
Under the natural law of survival of the fittest
Creatures in the north and south evolved vastly different appearances
Supporting herbivores and carnivores
Becoming the foundation of the entire ecosystem
Each plant species has its specific range of adaptation
China's north and south differ greatly in climate and landforms
Resulting in distinct plant communities in the north and south
(Vegetation zoning in eastern China, mapping by Gong Xiangjie & Chen Ruiting/Planet Research Institute)
The Greater Khingan Range is located in a dry and cold climate zone
With an average annual temperature below -2°C
Its long winter can last over 240 days
While larch plants possess robust root systems
Even in swampy, permafrost soil
Rapid growth through intense photosynthesis and transpiration
(Please view horizontally, Greater Khingan Range forest, photographer @ Liu Zhaoming)
Whether trees, shrubs, or herbaceous plants
Enter dormancy by shedding leaves and withering
Only to grow new leaves again in spring
Creating the rich colors of autumn
(Autumn scenery at Badaling Great Wall, photographer @ Pan Weiguang)
Entering the humid and hot subtropical zone
The average annual temperature rises to 16-20°C
Annual precipitation also surges to 1000-2000 mm
(Forest in Guangxi, image source @ VCG)
Reaching the tropical southernmost part of China
Where water and heat resources are most abundant
Sunlight is the energy source for plant photosynthesis
And water is also indispensable for plant growth
Tropical plants thus enter a state of "voracious growth"
(Tropical monsoon rainforest in Sanya, image source @ VCG)
Becoming the top choice for mammals to withstand the cold
Reducing heat exchange with the external environment
Hence, mammals in Northeast China tend to be larger in size
For example, the body length of the Siberian tiger is 1-1.5 meters longer than that of the South China tiger.
(Siberian tiger, photographer: Song Xinzi)
Evergreen forests provide stable habitats for animals.
As well as a year-round supply of food.
Thus, the forest is home to a wide variety of arboreal creatures.
Especially primates with agile limbs and advanced brains.
(Yunnan snub-nosed monkey, photographer: Ding Kuanliang)
The natural aquatic product catch from lakes alone.
Accounts for 20% of the national freshwater catch.
(Taihu Lake giant net fishing, photographer: Pan Cheng)
Including 150-180 species of waterfowl.
Representing over 10% of the total bird species in the country.
(Please view horizontally, Fuhe Wetland, image source: Changjiang Daily)
The height of the trees can reach 50-60 meters.
Equivalent to the height of a 20-story building.
From the canopy to the understory, rich layers are formed.
Providing living space for more species.
(Great hornbill, photographer: Sun Xiaohong)
(Residential houses in Lüliang, Shanxi, photographer: Cui Yongjiang)
The annual precipitation in North China is only about 500 millimeters.
People don't need to worry too much about water accumulation on roofs
Roofs can also be used for drying grains
(Baoding, Hebei, a farmhouse drying corn on the roof, image source @VCG)
(Master-of-Nets Garden, photographer @Luo Ming)
(Southern eaves, Longmen Ancient Town, Fuyang, Hangzhou, photographer @Pan Jincao)
By elevating the living space above the ground
It is a typical architectural adaptation to hot and humid environments
(Stilted houses in Xiangxi, Hunan, photographer @Liu Chen)
Northern palaces, temples, and other structures
Such as vermilion walls and blue glazed tiles
Stand out more prominently against the monotonous winter colors
(Northern architecture features vivid colors and strong contrasts, with the Temple of Heaven as a classic example, photographer @Chen Guoxi)
Buildings often adopt more subdued colors
(Morning in Wuyuan, Hui-style architecture typically uses white walls and black tiles, representing Southern color schemes, photographer @Lu Yuchun)
Allowing houses and roads built near water
(Snow scene at Chang Gate, Suzhou, photographer @Wu Minjun)
To maximize sunlight and minimize obstructions
Houses are generally aligned north-south and arranged orderly
(Winter in Pingyao, Shanxi, photographer @Zhai Hongyu)
Also results in different transportation methods between the North and South
The southern region has more abundant water resources available for utilization.
Nearly 80% of the country's navigable waterways are distributed across the southern provinces.
(Huai'an, Jiangsu, Phase II Terminal of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, Image credit @VCG)
This requires the construction of more and larger bridges
when building railways and highways in the south.
(Railway bridge in Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi, Photographer @Huang Yijun)
Consequently, it affects agriculture and animal husbandry in the north and south.
Crop growth relies on the accumulation of heat.
The sum of daily average temperatures ≥0°C within a year
The accumulated temperature in Northeast China is <4000°C.
Ample precipitation and lower evaporation
ensure abundant surface water resources here.
Thus, fishing and hunting have always been traditional production methods.
(Fishing at Chagan Lake, Jilin, Photographer @Fu Lihua)
Organic matter is well preserved in the soil.
Crops grow rapidly by relying on soil fertility.
The grain produced in Heilongjiang Province alone
can account for 1/6 of the nation's commercial grain.
(Farmland in the Sanjiang Plain, Shuangyashan, Heilongjiang, Image credit @VCG)
Therefore, crops that prefer warmth and tolerate drought are commonly cultivated.
Wheat production accounts for over 58% of the nation's total
(Farmland in North China, photographer: Chen Junjie)
With precipitation reaching 800-1800 millimeters
Making this area suitable for rice cultivation
(Terraced fields in Danzhai County, Guizhou, photographer: Yao Zhaohui)
Additionally, subtropical crops such as tea, bamboo, and rapeseed
(Mukeng Bamboo Sea, photographer: Li Qiong)
Tropical crops like rubber, palm, and sugarcane
As well as tropical fruits including bananas, mangoes, and coconuts
(Sugarcane harvest, photographer: Yao Zhaohui)
The cropping system ranges from single cropping in the Northeast Plain
To triple cropping in regions like Nanling and Hainan
(Cropping systems and thermal zoning in eastern China; accumulated temperature refers to the sum of daily average temperatures ≥0°C, mapping by Gong Xiangjie & Chen Ruiting/Planet Research Institute)
Forming dietary habits of rice in the south and wheat in the north
(Major grain crop zoning in eastern China, mapping by Gong Xiangjie & Chen Ruiting/Planet Research Institute)
Whether during festivals or birthday gatherings
(Staff making dumplings at a restaurant in Shenyang, image credit: VCG)
Steamed buns are indispensable in daily meals
(Qingdao-style steamed buns, Shandong, image credit: VCG)
But it would be simplistic to consider northern staples monotonous
Beyond the wildest imagination of southerners
(Shaanxi Guanzhong flower buns, photographer @ Wang Jun)
Additionally, it can be pancakes, oil cakes, baked cakes, or flatbreads
(Mengyin large pancakes in Linyi City, Shandong, image source @ VCG)
Zhajiang noodles, oil-splashed noodles, minced meat noodles
Biangbiang noodles, hand-pulled noodles, beef noodles
Sliced noodles, pinched noodles, knife-cut noodles, stewed noodles
(Handmade noodles in Yiyuan County, Shandong, image source @ VCG)
As well as naan, dough drop soup, stir-fried dough drops, stir-fried noodle slices
A bowl of rice is the mainstream on the dining table
Suitable for making various pastries and rice products
From Jiangsu-Zhejiang dim sum to Chaoshan rice cakes
(Hai'an City, Jiangsu Province, making rice cakes, image source @ VCG)
It has also formed a north-south opposition pattern
(Frozen fish in Fuyuan City, photographer @ Wang Huan)
Northerners can stock up on several pounds of ingredients at once
(Shenyang, Damingtun Agricultural Product Trading and Logistics Center, farmers selling green onions, image source @ VCG)
Simple, rough, and quick energy replenishment
The resulting "hard dishes" are indispensable
(Northeastern iron pot stew, image source @ Tuchong Creativity)
Prefer eating raw spicy scallions and garlic
To enhance the taste experience of noodles
(Shandong scallions, image source @VCG)
In the subtropical and tropical southern regions
Southerners place more emphasis on the freshness of ingredients
(Fresh greens in the market, image source @VCG)
As the land of fish and rice in the Jiangnan region
Whether fish, shrimp, or crab from rivers, lakes, or seas
(Taicang crabs in Jiangsu, image source @VCG)
(Taizhou, Jiangsu, lotus pond, image source @VCG)
Similarly, in the humid and hot southwestern region
Unintentionally creating a spicy flavor feast
(Chongqing cuisine with abundant chili, photographer @Li Xiaotang)
Dialects, opera, literature, painting schools
Even personality tendencies, physique, and appearance
To find satisfaction in both taste and soul
(Night market in Huangshan, Anhui, photographer @Tang Shao)
More enclosed architectural styles are adopted
(Open-air food stalls at a night market in Shenyang, image source @VCG)
The South and the North are gradually merging
Like a bond connecting the Jiangnan region with the capital
(Zaozhuang, Shandong, ships docked on the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal waiting to pass through the lock, image credit @VCG)
(Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, photographer @Yang Cheng)
Breaking down the barriers between northern and southern goods
Bringing together flavors from all corners of the country
Just as southerners are subtle while northerners are straightforward
Southerners are shrewd while northerners are generous
Reaching an unprecedented depth of integration
Juhuasuan has helped over
100,000 brands and 100 industries from the north and south
Create millions of high-quality products
From Shanxi’s millet, Hebei’s corn, to Henan’s red dates
(Swipe left/right to view, Juhuasuan partners with Yangqu millet industry in Shanxi, Wanquan Tianqin corn industry in Hebei, and Henan’s red date industry)
(Swipe left/right to view, Juhuasuan partners with Inner Mongolia’s Erlongtun coarse cereals industry and Xing’an League rice industry)
To Ningxia’s goji berries and Xinjiang’s raisins
(Swipe left/right to view, Juhuasuan partners with Ningxia’s goji berry and Xinjiang’s raisin industries)
As well as Yunnan’s succulents and Pujiang’s kiwifruit
(Swipe left/right to view, Juhuasuan partners with Yunnan’s succulent industry belt and Sichuan’s Pujiang kiwifruit industry)
Having enjoyed the benefits brought by Juhuasuan
Finding harmony amidst their differences
Although the Northeast region has a frigid climate, its fertile soil combined with the application of the latest agricultural technologies enables its high yields to rival those of the Jiangnan region. The southern areas, located in subtropical and tropical zones, boast a greater variety of flora and fauna than the north, resulting in more abundant natural resources.
can join in this joyous gathering of north and south
Here, you’ll find not only the hottest topics about north-south differences
yet are intricately intertwined and fused on the same land
Cover Photographers: Huang Yijun & Liang Jiajin
P.S. Main references for this article:
[1] Zhao Ji. New Edition of China's Physical Geography[M]. Higher Education Press, 2015.
[2] Zheng Du. General Introduction to China's Physical Geography[M]. Science Press, 2015.
[3] Chen Lingzhi. Flora and Vegetation Geography of China[M]. People's Science Press, 2015.
[4] Zhang Rongzu. Zoogeography of China[M]. Science Press, 2015.
[5] Zhou Lisan. Agricultural Geography of China[M]. Science Press, 2017.
[6] Zheng Lianbin et al. Physical Anthropological Research on the Han Chinese[M]. Science Press, 2017.
[7] Chen Hang et al. Transportation Geography of China[M]. Science Press, 2017.
[8] Wang Enyong et al. Cultural Geography of China[M]. Science Press, 2017.