here lies the gobi desert, a vast plateau twice the size of texas, inhabited by nomad tribes who leadheir caravans back and forth over ancient trade routes. to the west, tibet, the icy roof of the world. its borders encompass the eastern and of the himalayan mountains, a mystery land that few have entered. and from these vast mountains of the west rise the three great rivers. the northernmost of these is the yellow river. far to the south is the pearl the seahich enters pass, the great parts of hong kong. the greatest river of all is the one that flows between, the yangtze, winding for 3000 miles through the heart of china, bringing fertility to the good earth and bearing upon its broad waters half the commerce of china. yes, china is land. next to russia, the largest country in the world. most important, china is people. 450 million of them. ♪ [singing] >> if the whole population of china were to walk past you, four abreast, there would never be an end to the procession. the new chinese would be born and grew up before the last man could pass by. of every five people on the face of t