Located in the transitional belt between the southeastern humid zone and and the
northwestern arid zone, Shaanxi Province belongs to a basically continental
climate. However, due to the strong effect of the varied topography, there exists
great meteorological differences between the north and south. Generally speaking,
travelers to Shaanxi should avoid both the cold winter and rainy
summer. The northern Yellow Soil Plateau (Huangtu gaoyuan)
is within a dry zone, with relatively lower annual temperatures compared to other parts of
the province. The coldest month, January, boasts a monthly temperature as low as -10
degrees C. while the temperature in the hottest season, September, stays around 23 degrees
C. It is on the edges of this zone that Yan"an, the revolutionary
stronghold, is to be found. The mid-part of the province belongs to a semi-humid zone and has the
normal characteristics of a continental climate--a distinct four seasons, although with
mild temperatures all year round. This area is located within a basin, so is frequently
plagued by heavy precipitation in summer and autumn. Both Xi"an and Huashan
belong in this zone. The southern part of the province boasts a relatively high
annual temperature, a typical feature of a subtropical climate. Winter here is
not too cold while summer is not too hot, although there is frequent heavy precipitation
here. |