Final answer:
The features in the Western half of the country that explain why fewer people live there are mountains and deserts.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the Western half of the country, there are several features that explain why fewer people live there. One of these features is mountains. The high mountains bordering Central Asia restrict travel and trade with the rest of the continent. Another feature is deserts. Western China has large regions like the Takla Makan Desert that are uninhabited and inhospitable due to hot summers and long cold winters. These natural geographic features make the Western half of the country less habitable and thus fewer people live there.