Geography

The geography of the area is characterized by the Ordos Desert in the north along the border with Inner Mongolia, the Loess Plateau in the central part of the province, the Qinling Mountains running east to west in the south-central region, and a subtropical climate south of the Qinling Mountains. Between the Loess Plateau and the Qinling Mountains lies the Wei River Valley, or Guanzhong, which is considered a cradle of early Chinese civilization.

Clockwise from the east, Shaanxi borders Shanxi (E, NE), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichuan (SW), Gansu (W), Ningxia (NW), and Inner Mongolia (N). In terms of the number of bordering provincial-level divisions, Shaanxi ties with Inner Mongolia.

Due to its wide latitudinal span, Shaanxi experiences a variety of climates. According to the Köppen climate classification, the northern parts, including the Loess Plateau, have either a cold arid or cold semi-arid climate, characterized by cold, very dry winters; dry springs and autumns; and hot summers. The area known as Guanzhong is mostly semi-arid, though some areas feature a humid subtropical climate, with cool to cold winters and hot, humid summers often marked by early-season heatwaves. The southern portion is much more humid and falls within the humid subtropical zone, featuring milder winters and long, hot, humid summers. The annual mean temperature ranges roughly from 8 to 16°C (46 to 61°F), with January temperatures ranging from −11 to 3.5°C (12.2 to 38.3°F) and July temperatures from 21 to 28°C (70 to 82°F).