What Was the Climate in Ancient China?

The climate of ancient China varied from scorching and humid summers in some places to extreme cold and and freezing temperatures in the highlands. The terrain and diverse topographical features of the country contributed to the disparate weather conditions experienced by the Chinese people.

In areas of higher altitude, such as the Tibetan plateau, severe temperatures could reach up to -40 degrees Fahrenheit, although blistering days could be felt in the summer. The central regions were predominantly deserts with arid weather and cold winters. The climate in the southern portions of ancient China was similar to the tropics, with heavy precipitation that sometimes accompanied typhoons. Modern China generally experiences the same climate as the country did a long time ago since China’s landscape has basically remained the same.