温度如前节所述,中国乃大陆性气候,其意即极端气候,较之同纬度各地,夏季过热而冬季过寒。然则中国气候究竟极端至如何程度,是非罗列中国各地之温度与北半球同纬各地之平均温度相互比较,不足以窥其究竟。下列之平均温度,均为海平面温度,高地之平均温度,皆经订正,以便比较。

Temperature:-Having a continental climate, China is too hot in summer and too cold in winter for its latitudes. The deficiency of warmth in winter amounts to 17癈. at Aigun in north Manchuria, but decreases to 4? C. in Kuingchow on Hainan Island. The excess of heat in summer decreases likewise from north to south.If we define winter as the period when mean temperature goes below 10? C. and snmmer when it is over 22? C., we will find that there is no winter in south China south of Wenchow,Chekiang; and no summer north of Harbin,Manchuria.