The Loess Plateau

The Loess Plateau (34°–40°N, 103°–114°E) is situated in the northern part of Central China (Fig. 2.1). It borders on North China Plain in the east, adjoins Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in the west, stands in the north of Qinling Mountains, and neighbors Inner Mongolia Plateau in the north. The Loess Plateau is a part of the dryland region in northwest China, with its altitude in the range of 800–3000 m, encompassing a vast expanse of 620,000 km. The Loess Plateau stretches over Shanxi province, northern Shaanxi province, Gansu province, northeastern Qinghai province, Hetao Plain, and Ordos Plateau of Inner Mongolia, and the western hilly land of Henan province—that is, 341 counties (cities) in seven provinces (or autonomous regions) (Fig. 2.2). The loess is perfectly arable due to its fine grains, loose texture, and high content of mineral nutrients. In fact, it is the cradle of the ancient Chinese civilisation, with a long agricultural history (over 6000 years) in its basins and river valleys. Standing between the developed eastern part and the less developed western part of the country, the Loess Plateau is one of the major regions selected for China’s national eco-environment development programme.