Climate across the vast country of China varies widely from its subtropical south to the northwest deserts, so too its habitats range from the Tibetan Plateau’s cold heights, to temperate grasslands and monsoon influenced forests. China was the first part of the Old World to develop extensive open grassland, which later spread over much of Eurasia. The Himalayan uplift changed the climate and created opportunities for new habitat. It also blocked the movement of many species, leading to differing fauna on either side. The rise of the Qin Ling Mountains further divided China into a cool and dry north and a warm and wet south by altering monsoon wind patterns.

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