Climate

China has a marked continental monsoon climate characterized by great variety. Most parts of China are in the north temperate zone while parts of the southern area are in the tropical or subtropical zone and parts of the northern area are in the frigid zone.

Most of China lies in the north temperate zone, characterized by a warm climate and clear division between seasons,a climate well suited for habitation. In winter, northerly winds fromhigh latitude areas keep the northern parts cold and dry; in summer, monsoons from eastern and southern coastal areas bring warmness and moisture.

The climate also varies with the extensive territory and varied topography from region toregion. In northern China, summer is warm and short, while winter is cold and long. In southern China, summer is long, humid and hot, and winter short and warm, with the temperature rarely below freezing. In central China(the valley area along the Yangtze River), division between seasons is clear-summer is long, hot and humid while winter, short and cold.

In northwestern China, such as Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, summer is dry and sweltering and winter is formidably cold. On the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau(about 4,000 meters above sea level)in southwestern China, winter is extremely cold and summer is short and moderately warm, with little precipitation and great difference in temperature between day and night.

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