Divisions of Administrative Areas and Natural Resources

This chapter mainly covers data on China’s divisions of administrative areas, natural conditions and the exploitation and utilization of the natural resources.

1) Data on divisions of administrative areas in China are prepared and provided by the Ministry of Civil Affairs on the basis of the changes in the divisions of administrative areas approved by the State Council by the end of the previous year.

2) Data on natural conditions cover land area, mountain ranges, rivers, ocean and meteorological phenomena. Statistics are compiled by the Department of Integrated Statistics of the National Bureau of Statistics using relevant historical data.

3) Data on natural resources cover land, forest, water, ocean and mineral resources. Data on cultivated land are from the 1996 agriculture census conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics. Data on idle land and grassland are collected from surveys conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture. Data on land occupied by forest industry and on forest resources are prepared according to checks conducted by the National Bureau of Forestry in 1994-1998. Data on water resources are provided by the Ministry of Water Conservancy. Data on oceanic resources are provided by the State Oceanic Administration. Data on mineral resources are provided by the Ministry of Land and Resources. Meteorological data are provided by the China Meteorological Bureau.