Living in China

China is located in East Asia and stretches from the Pacific coast to the high mountains and deserts inland; around 1.41 billion people live there. The country encompasses tropical coasts, fertile river valleys, vast plains and dry plateaus. The south is generally warm and humid, the north has distinct seasons, while the west is characterized by large temperature differences and sparse settlement. Many people live in densely built-up cities with high-rise buildings, subways and high-speed trains; in rural areas, access routes and jobs depend more heavily on regional centers. People work in industry, trade, services and agriculture. Markets, teahouses, parks and shared meals are part of leisure time in many places.