Shaanbei is located in the northern edge of the Loess Plateau with a general elevation range of, occupying approximately 45% of the total area of Shaanxi. Elevation tends to increase from northwest to southeast. The northern portions degrade into the Ordos Desert, while the southern portions slope up into hills. Shaanbei is generally perceived to include all of Yulin and the northern half of Yan'an prefectures, while the mountainous southern Yan'an is based around the Luo River valley and regarded as part of the Guanzhong Basin.
Culture
Shaanbei culture includes a number of distinct art forms, such as its :zh:陕北民歌|distinctive forms of folk singing, waist-drums, paper-cutting, and a distinct form of painting known as "farmer painting". The predominant language of Shaanbei is Jin Chinese, with the southern areas being a transition zone into Guanzhong dialect.
Shaanbei Folk Singing
Shaanbei's style of folk-singing is distinct from other types of folk singing throughout China, and has gained fame via a number of media depictions, such as in the movie Yellow Earth. The songs are typically about the struggles of rural life, such as poverty and arranged marriages. Many of these folks songs are hundreds of years old, and passed down from generation to generation.
Waist Drums
Certain celebrations in Shaanbei are accompanied by dancers hoisting Ansai waist-drums, small drums strapped to the front of the dancers' waist. This tradition gained national notoriety through the film Yellow Earth, which included a scene featuring over 150 real drummers from the region.
Paper Cutting
Paper cutting is another art-form traditional to the Shaanbei region, serving a number of different purposes. In addition to beautifying the environment during important festivals, paper cut art also serves as a symbol of love and fertility during marriage, can be used to pay respects to various religious figures, incorporated into embroidery, or simply serve as toys.
Farmer Painting
Shaanbei farmer painting is a tradition hundreds of years old, dating back to dynastic promotion of painting. These types of paintings often feature bright colors and depictions of animals. Key characteristics of farmer painting is that it commonly takes on subjects specific to the local region, its emphasis on expression rather than adhering to specific rules, use of thick outlines of shapes, use of artist's conception, heavy usage of symbolism, and bright colors.
