China
lies mainly in the northern Temperate Zone under the predominance of
monsoon.
Monsoon Winds
From September to April of next year, monsoon wind arrives from Siberia and
the Mongolia Plateau into Chinese territory and decline by the time it
reaches south of China, causing dry and cold winter in the country and
tremendous temperature differences almost about 40 degree between the north
and south regions.
Most of China's rainfall comes during the monsoon season between May and
October.
The Seasons
Great differences in temperature and climate are found from region to
region owing to China's extensive territory and complex topography.
The northern part of Heilongjiang Province in northeast China has no
summer, Hainan Island has a long summer but no winter; the Huaihe River
valley features four distinct seasons; the western part of the Qinghai-Tibet
Plateau is covered by snow all year round; the southern part of the
Yunan-Guizhou Plateau is spring-like all the year; and the northwestern
inland region sees a great drop of temperature in the day.
Humidity
It also varies greatly from region to region; it is as high as 1,500
millimeters along the southeastern coast. Decreasing land ward, it is less
than 50 millimeters in northwest.
The Temperature
China has many regional climates. Northern China has severe winters with
temperatures reaching below 0 degrees. Central China is milder with
temperatures ranging from 30 degrees in the winter to 80 degrees in the
summer. Eastern China has hot wet summers, while the western desert can have
temperatures in the 100-degree range.
