China: a geographic preface / Stanley W. Toops -- The historical context / Rhoads Murphey -- Chinese politics / Robert E. Gamer -- China's economy / John Wong -- China beyond the heartland / Robert E. Gamer -- International relations / Robert E. Gamer -- Population growth and urbanization / Ma Rong -- China's environmental problems / Richard Louis Edmonds -- Family, kinship, marriage, and sexuality / Zang Xiaowei -- Women and development / Laurel Bossen -- Religion / Chan Hoiman and Ambrose Y.C. King -- Literature and popular culture / Charles A. Laughlin -- Trends and prospects / Robert E. Gamer.