Key learning points

1. China’s climate varies considerably because of its large size and diverse landscape.
2. Much of China has a monsoon climate with dry winters and wetter summers.
3. Temperatures in part of China can reach more than 50oC in the summer.
4. China’s lowest recorded temperature was -53oc in Mohe, the country’s northernmost city.
5. Some places in China receive heavy rainfall; other places have an arid climate.

Keywords

• Climate - an average of weather conditions (e.g. rain, sun, wind) in a place taken over a long period of time (usually 30 years or more)

• Temperature - the degree of hotness or coldness of a place

• Monsoon - a seasonal change in wind direction that brings a very rainy season or a very dry season

• Latitude - imaginary lines on Earth showing position north or south of the Equator, measured in degrees

• Altitude - height above sea level or ground level

Common misconception