In the satellite map, the middle of China (Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Ningxia province, approximately one tenth of China) appears brownish and infertile. That is the great loess plateau (the yellow land), a land of glory and a place of misery.
Modern people may not believe that the barren loess plateau was once the economical and political center of China. The land used to be China’s food storehouse and had supported millions of people. Now the land is hardly inhabitable (but tens of millions of people are still living there) and water is scarce. Poor peasants have to cross their fingers every year hoping almighty Heaven Emperor to pour some drops of water on their land. It is a desperate situation.