Most of China lies in the north temperate zone, characterized by
a warm climate and distinctive seasons, a climate well suited for
habitation. Most of China has a continental monsoon climate. From
September to April the following year, the dry and cold winter
monsoons blow from Siberia and the Mongolian Plateau, resulting in
cold and dry winters and great differences between the temperatures
of north and south China. From April to September, warm and humid
summer monsoons blow from the seas in the east and south, resulting
in overall high temperatures and plentiful rainfall, and little
temperature difference between north and south China. In terms of
temperature, the nation can be sectored from south to north into
equatorial, tropical, subtropical, warm-temperate, temperate, and
cold-temperate zones. Precipitation gradually declines from the
southeastern to the northwestern inland area, and the average
annual precipitation varies greatly from place to place. In
southeastern coastal areas, it reaches over 1,500 mm, while in
northwestern areas, it drops to below 200 mm.