The Loess Plateau is the third largest plateau of China with an area of around 600,000 square kilometers and a height above sea level of 1000-2000 meters. The plateau is covered mostly by loess that is 50-80 meters thick. The loess here is the most concentrated and thickest in the world. This is a natural wonder that cannot be found elsewhere. The Loess Plateau is one of the original places of China(one of the earliest known inhabited places of China). People cultivated on the Loess Plateau as early as 5,500 years ago. With the development of cultivation, the population grew. It become the political and economic center of China in(during) the Qin and Han Dynasties. Nowadays, with the implementation of Western development strategy, the area's economy has increased(grown) rapidly.