Southwestern China

Southwestern China (Chinese: 西南; pinyin: Xīnán) is a region in the People's Republic of China. It is made up of five main areas: Chongqing, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, and Tibet. This part of China is very important because it has many different kinds of landscapes, from tall mountains to wide rivers. People living there have rich cultures and traditions that are special to the area. The region also has many natural resources that help support the country's economy.

Geography

Southwestern China is a rugged and mountainous area. It lies between the Tibetan Plateau to the west and the Chinese coastal hills and plains to the east. Important features include the Hengduan Mountains, the Sichuan Basin, and the karstic Yungui Plateau. Most of the region is drained by the Yangtze River, which forms the Three Gorges.

The main areas of Southwestern China are Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, and Guizhou. Some wider definitions also include Guangxi and parts of Hunan. The official government definition includes Sichuan, Chongqing, Yunnan, Guizhou, and the Tibet Autonomous Region.

History

Portions of Southwestern China were added to China in 230 BCE by the emperor Shi Huangdi. Later, independent states such as the Nanzhao Kingdom and the Dali Kingdom had influence in the area. Eventually, the region became part of the Ming domain. In the 13th century, the Yuan dynasty expanded to include the Tibetan Plateau.

During the 18th century, control of the Tibetan Plateau was important in conflicts between Russia, Britain, and China. In the 20th century, the Nationalist government used Chongqing as a capital during the Second Sino-Japanese War. After the Chinese Civil War, some Nationalist forces moved into Burma, but were later expelled by joint action from China and Burma.

China later focused more on developing its southwest regions to support economic growth.

Demographics

Southwestern China has many different people and feels more countryside compared to the busier eastern parts of the country. Over the past few decades, it has been growing and changing quickly. Today, about half of China's different ethnic groups live in this area, making up over a third of the people there. Most cities have many Han Chinese, while smaller towns and villages are home to groups like the Zhuang, Miao, and Yi.

People in Southwestern China mostly speak a special type of Mandarin Chinese called Southwestern Mandarin. It looks the same when written down but sounds different from the main version of Mandarin and can be hard to understand for about half of speakers. As of 2012, around 260 million people spoke this version.

Industry

In the early 1900s, factories and other industries in southwestern China were mostly started and managed by the government. This helped the area grow and develop new ways to make things.

Administrative divisions

Cities with urban area over one million in population

Notes