West China ◾ 251
winters and mild summers. e region is geologically active with landslides and earthquakes. e
average elevation of the province ranges from 2000 to 3500 m; and the average temperature from
0 to 15°C.
Historically, the region represents the cradle of unique local civilizations that coincided with
the later years of the Shang Dynasty and Zhou Dynasty in north China. e existence of the
early Kingdom of Shu was recorded in history as an ally of the Zhou who defeated the Shang. e
area was on the trade route from the Yellow River Valley to foreign countries of the southwest,
especially India. e leaders of the Qin Dynasty, which was based in present day Gansu and
Shaanxi, realized that the province’s military importance as wel ...