Early Chinese civilization and dynasties thrived for thousands of years with relatively little outside influence due to several geographic and cultural factors. Among the options you provided, the following points are significant:
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Natural Barriers: Mountains (like the Himalayas and the Tian Shan) and deserts (such as the Gobi Desert) served as natural barriers that limited invasions and migration. These geographical features made it difficult for outside groups to penetrate deeply into the Chinese heartland, allowing Chinese civilization to develop largely in isolation.
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Self-Sufficiency: The Chinese civilization developed a sophisticated agricultural system and a range of technologies that enabled them to be relatively self-sufficient. They cultivated rice, millet, and wheat, and also developed technologies such as irrigation and plowing, which allowed them to sustain large populations without the need for extensive trade with other civilizations.
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The Great Wall: While the Great Wall of China was built later to defend against invasions (especially from the Mongols), its existence symbolized the longstanding efforts to protect the Chinese states from outside influences and invasions. It reinforced the sense of security within the empire.
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Water Barriers: While it's not entirely accurate to say that China is protected by water on all sides, it does have significant water barriers, such as the Pacific Ocean to the east, which helped limit maritime invasions in some periods. Also, major rivers, like the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, facilitated internal trade while acting as geographical features that could impede outside movements in certain cases.
In summary, the combination of natural geographical barriers, self-sufficiency in resources, and strategic defenses contributed to the long-lasting stability and continuity of early Chinese civilization. However, it's worth noting that while there was limited outside influence for long periods, there were still significant interactions with neighboring cultures and civilizations through trade routes like the Silk Road.