China’s immense geographical area fosters an extreme range of ecological systems. The nation spans nearly 50 degrees of latitude, encompassing the world’s highest mountains and deepest deserts, resulting in a complex mosaic of life zones. This vast territory transitions from tropical rainforests in the south to boreal forests in the north, and from coastal plains in the east to the high-altitude plateau in the west. This environmental variation creates the richest assemblage of biodiversity in the temperate northern hemisphere.
Geographic and Climatic Influences on Biome Distribution
The distribution of China’s biomes is controlled by two factors: the East Asian Monsoon system and the Tibetan Plateau. The East Asian Monsoon annually draws warm, moisture-laden air from the Pacific Ocean, which penetrates the eastern half of the country. This influx of moisture creates the conditions necessary for the extensive forest biomes found in the eastern and southern provinces.
Conversely, the Tibetan Plateau acts as an atmospheric barrier in the west. This elevation blocks the movement of moisture from the Indian Ocean, creating a pronounced rain shadow effect on its northern and eastern flanks. This barrier is the primary cause of the arid and cold-desert conditions that define the vast interior regions.
China’s extreme latitudinal range further dictates temperature variation, influencing the specific type of forest or grassland that can thrive. Temperatures can swing from tropical warmth in the far south to subarctic cold in the northeastern provinces.
Arid and Semi-Arid Biomes
The arid and semi-arid biomes dominate the interior and western regions, existing due to the rain shadow of the Tibetan Plateau and distance from oceanic moisture sources. These regions include true deserts like the Taklamakan and Gobi, alongside vast expanses of temperate steppes. The Taklamakan Desert, situated in the Tarim Basin, is one of the world’s largest sandy deserts, known for its extreme continental climate leading to hot days and freezing cold winter nights.
The Gobi Desert, stretching across northern China and into Mongolia, is a cold desert situated on a high plateau. It experiences annual temperatures that fluctuate drastically from approximately -40°C in winter to over 40°C in summer. Vegetation in these true desert zones is sparse, consisting mainly of drought-adapted species like saxaul and various halophytes (salt-tolerant plants).
The semi-arid temperate steppes, historically covering much of Inner Mongolia, support short grasses and xerophytic shrubs. These grasslands are adapted to low, seasonal precipitation and are home to fauna like the two-humped Bactrian camel and various rodent species. The Alashan Plateau, a semi-desert region southwest of the Gobi, supports sparse shrubland.
Humid Forest Biomes
The eastern and southern parts of China host a variety of humid forest biomes, representing some of the most biodiverse areas in the northern hemisphere. In the far south, particularly in Hainan Island and southern Yunnan, Subtropical and Tropical Rainforests thrive under high rainfall and consistent warmth. These forests, such as those in Xishuangbanna, are species-rich, containing indicator species like bamboo and various evergreen tree varieties.
Moving north into Central China, the climate transitions into the Temperate Deciduous and Mixed Forests. These forests are defined by distinct seasons, with trees shedding leaves in the cold winter months. Dominant species include oak, birch, maple, and linden, forming a canopy that changes color dramatically in autumn. The mountainous regions of the Yangtze River basin are renowned for their high concentration of endemic plant species.
Further northeast, in provinces like Heilongjiang, the climate becomes colder, giving way to the Boreal or Coniferous Forests. These forests are dominated by cold-tolerant needle-leaved trees such as larch, spruce, and fir. The distribution of these diverse forest types creates a north-to-south gradient of vegetation defined by temperature and moisture availability.
High-Altitude and Alpine Biomes
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau encompasses the High-Altitude and Alpine Biomes, defined by extreme elevation, thin air, and permafrost conditions. Much of the plateau is classified as alpine steppe or alpine tundra, existing at elevations often exceeding 4,500 meters. The environment is cold and arid, with a short growing season and high solar radiation.
The vegetation is specialized to cope with these harsh limits, consisting mainly of low-growing plants like purple feather grass, dense cushion plants, and various lichens. Trees are virtually absent across the main plateau. This landscape supports large mammals adapted to the cold, including the wild yak, the Tibetan antelope (chiru), and the snow leopard. The presence of permafrost limits soil development and water drainage, contributing to the distinct, low-lying vegetation structure.