North China

North China is the region of China north of the Huai River and the Qinling Mountains, centred on the Yellow River basin and the North China Plain. Farmed mainly for wheat and millet, it was the cradle of early Chinese states and long the seat of government. Its open northern frontier made it the target of steppe peoples, and dynasties of northern origin such as the Northern Wei, Liao, Jin and Yuan ruled it.