Much of China, a country slightly larger than the continental?United States, is hilly or mountainous. To its east lies the?Pacific Ocean; to its south thick jungles. Mountains in the?southwest connect in the west with the Himalayas, which?merge with other mountains and the Taklamakan and?Gobi deserts in the northwest. In the north?there?are?frigid?steppes. Internal travel is easiest along river valleys, most?of which run west to east; these valleys hold most of the?population. Travel north and south between them is?difficult, resulting in limited contact that has contributed?to the development of more than fifty minority groups?speaking dozens of local dialects. This diverse population?has been held together by a shared character-based?written language.

Despite these physical barriers, China developed ties with?the rest of the world through conquest, religion, and trade.?Many products and technologies that were first developed?in China—silk, porcelain, gunpowder, tea, paper, and?woodblock printing—were much sought after by cultures?far beyond its borders. In exchange the Chinese sought?exotic goods, horses, and jade, as well as access to the?sources of Buddhism.

Learn more on the Asian Art Museum's?education website.