Manchuria, << man CHOOR ee uh >>, is the historical name of a region in northeastern China. Today, Manchuria is often called the Northeast or Dongbei. The region contains rich natural resources, especially coal and iron. Much of China’s heavy industry centers around the Manchurian cities of Changchun, Harbin, and Shenyang. The region also has fertile soil and produces much of China’s food. Manchuria consists roughly of the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning; and the northeastern part of Inner Mongolia, a self-governing region of China. Manchuria covers about 475,000 square miles (1,230,000 square kilometers).
People.
Manchuria has a population of over 100 million. About 90 percent of the people are descendants of Chinese who migrated to Manchuria between 1880 and 1930. Manchus, the original people of Manchuria, make up about 5 percent of the region’s population. Smaller population groups include Koreans and Mongols. Large numbers of these minority peoples have been absorbed into Chinese society through intermarriage and public education. Today, almost all the people of Manchuria speak Northern Chinese (Mandarin), the official language of China. They follow Chinese customs and live as do the people of most other parts of China.
Land and climate.
A broad central plain makes up most of Manchuria. Forested mountains border the plain on the east, north, and west. In the south, the Liaodong Peninsula extends into the Yellow Sea. The Amur and Ussuri rivers separate Manchuria from Russia on the northeast. Korea lies across the Yalu River to the southeast. Manchuria has long, cold winters and short, hot summers.
Economy.
Manchuria has rich deposits of coal and iron, both used in making steel. Its factories make such steel products as machinery, railroad equipment, tools, and trucks. They also produce cement, chemicals, electrical equipment, and paper. Grains, especially sorghums and soybeans, make up much of Manchuria’s agricultural production. The region’s farmers also grow cotton, sugar beets, and tobacco. Manchuria has reclaimed large areas of wasteland for farming by using irrigation and other methods. Dalian, one of China’s busiest ports, lies in the southern part of Manchuria.
History.
In early times, Manchu warriors on horseback frequently invaded and conquered parts of China. The Manchus conquered northern China in 1644, and gradually extended their control to the whole country. The Manchus ruled until 1912. Chinese rulers since 1912 have looked upon Manchuria as part of China. 
Russia expanded across Asia during the 1800’s and seized land from China. In 1860, Russia and China signed an agreement giving Russia all the territory north of the Amur River and east of the Ussuri River. In 1896, China agreed to permit Russia to build the Chinese Eastern Railway across Manchuria to the Russian port of Vladivostok. Two years later, Russia leased land on the Liaodong Peninsula and built a naval base at Lüshun and a port at Dalian.
In the Russo-Japanese War (1904-1905), Japan defeated Russia and took control of the Liaodong Peninsula. In 1931, the Japanese conquered the rest of Manchuria. They made the region a puppet state, which they called Manchukuo (Manzhouguo in Chinese). During World War II (1939-1945), Manchuria was an important industrial base for Japan.
During the last days of World War II, the Soviet Union—which had been formed in 1922 under Russia’s leadership—declared war on Japan and occupied Manchuria. Before returning Manchuria to China in 1946, the Soviet Union helped the Chinese Communists seize power. The Communists conquered all of China in 1949.
During the 1960’s, China claimed some Soviet territory beyond Manchuria. In 1969, China and the Soviet Union clashed over control of an island in the Ussuri River. The fighting stopped after the two nations agreed to discuss their differences. But when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, the border claims had not yet been settled. Russia and China continue to negotiate to settle the claims.
