In geography, there is a very awesome line, which is the Qinling Huaihe River line. Not only in China, but also in the world, it is considered by Western scholars to be the greatest discovery of Chinese geography in the 20th century. It is not only a natural barrier, but also an important symbol that divides the climatic, ecological, agricultural and cultural characteristics of the north and south of the continent. He was discovered by Mr. Zhang Xiangwen, an outstanding pioneer of geography in modern times.
Zhang Xiangwen, a native of Siyang, Jiangsu Province, is one of the founders of modern Chinese geography, and has left an indelible mark in the field of geographical research with his keen insight and profound knowledge. He was not only one of the first scholars to introduce Western geography to China, but also clearly put forward the concept of "Qinling-Huai River" as the geographical boundary between the north and south of the continent for the first time through in-depth field investigation and rigorous scientific analysis.
As early as 1908, Zhang Xiangwen depicted this geographical dividing line in his book "New Geography Literature". He described in the book: "The northern belt: the southern boundary, the northern ridge and the Huaishui, and the northern reach of the Yinshan Great Wall. The "North Ridge" mentioned here is the Qinling Mountains, and the "Huaishui" is the Huai River. This is the earliest known accurate record of the Qinling Huai River line as the boundary between the north and the south. However, a more specific and vivid elaboration appeared in the 1924 Geographical Chronicles of Buddhism, where Zhang Xiangwen pointed out more clearly that the Qinling Mountains and the Huai River constituted a natural division of China's north-south geographical pattern.
Why can the Qinling Huaihe River line become a symbol of the boundary between the north and the south? This is because there are obvious differences in climate between the areas north and south of the line. For example, in the north, winters are cold and dry, with warm and rainy summers, while in the south, there are four distinct seasons, with mild, humid winters and hot and rainy summers. At the same time, the blocking effect of the Qinling Mountains on the cold and warm airflow makes the distribution of plants and the types of agricultural production on both sides also show completely different characteristics.
The Qinling Huaihe River line not only has natural scientific significance, but also carries rich cultural connotations. In the north and south of this line, eating habits, architectural styles, dialects and folk customs have formed their own distinctive characteristics. For example, the small bridges and flowing water in the water towns of the south of the Yangtze River and the cave dwellings on the Loess Plateau, or the rice cultivation in the Yangtze River basin and the wheat production in the North China Plain, are all vivid cultural landscapes on this invisible dividing line.
To sum up, the reason why the Qinling Huaihe River line has such a significant position and influence in the fields of Chinese geography, climatology and human geography is mainly due to the following aspects:
1. Climatic demarcation line: The first line of the Huaihe River in the Qinling Mountains is a natural transition zone between China's subtropical humid climate zone and the warm temperate semi-humid climate zone. This line roughly corresponds to the 800 mm annual precipitation isometric line and the 0°C isotherm in January, with cold and dry winters in the north and warm and humid south to the south.
2. Biodiversity boundary: Due to different climatic conditions, there are obvious differences in ecosystems and biodiversity on the north and south sides of the line. For example, the south is dominated by evergreen broad-leaved forests, while the north is dominated by deciduous broad-leaved forests or mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, and the hydrological characteristics are also quite different, such as the length of river glaciation, the size of runoff and seasonal variations.
3. Differences in agricultural production: The Qinling Huaihe River line is also an important symbol of China's agricultural division. The northern region is suitable for growing hardy wheat, corn and other crops, while the southern region is suitable for growing rice, which derives a completely different farming culture and eating habits.
4. Historical and cultural influences: Affected by this geographical and climatic differentiation for a long time, the north and south of the Qinling Mountains have formed their own unique architectural styles, dialects, folk customs, living habits and other cultural landscapes, reflecting the far-reaching impact of the geographical environment on human social activities.
5. Basis for policy planning: At the national level, the Qinling Huaihe River line, as an important geographical reference line, has played a decisive role in the formulation of regional development planning, water resources management, and ecological protection.
To this day, we still need to express our deep gratitude to Mr. Zhang Xiangwen for his great contribution to geography. His pioneering work not only provides a theoretical basis for understanding China's geographical diversity and regional differences, but also provides an important reference for the formulation of national regional development policies. It not only reflects the rich and diverse geographical features of the mainland, but also profoundly affects the survival and development of the Chinese nation and the formation of regional characteristics.
The Qinling-Huaihe River line is not only a geographical concept, but also a key to the cultural diversity of the mainland. With his outstanding research results and far-reaching influence, Mr. Zhang Xiangwen has successfully portrayed this "geographical poem" spanning thousands of miles, which fascinates everyone who pays attention to the mysteries of Chinese geography.