China is divided into three main regions. The Tibetan plateau, which encompasses Qinghai and Tibet, is a high-altitude region, which includes many mountain peaks over 7000 m. Mt Everest is the highest of all, standing at 8,848 m, located on the Tibet-Nepal border. This region is characterized by low temperatures, very strong winds and solar radiation.

The second region is an expansive, dry area in northwestern China, consisting mainly of sand and rock deserts. The largest inland basin in the world is located here, the Xinjiang's Tarim Basin, as well as the biggest shifting lake - Lop Nur in Xinjiang. The most well-known desert in China is the Gobi, even though it lies mostly outside of official Chinese borders.

The third main region are the plains, which stretch from the plateaus of Tibet and Qinghai to the basins of the great rivers, and comprise approximately 45% of the country's surface, and are home to 95% of the population. This area is agriculturally the most significant, as well as being the most heavily populated.

A more elaborate division is given by the Chinese geographic classification scheme. This lists seven natural regions: Northwest China, the Tibetan Plateau, North China, Northeast China, Subtropical East Central China, Inner Mongolian Grassland and Tropical South China.