Located within the transitional area between the mountainous wet region to the east and semi-arid plains to the west, Changchun has a temperate, semi-monsoon climate. Changbai Mountain serves as a barrier, helping to prevent the city from the frequent monsoons in summer time. In contrast, there is no obvious impediment to hold the bitter cold from Siberia in check in winter.

Changchun boasts four distinct seasons-- Spring here is generally dry and windy; summer is short and warm; autumn is clear with big daily temperature differences; winter is piercingly cold and long.