The climate is hypercontinental sub-humid or semi-arid, with the Köppen classifications BSk or in the extreme east, Dwa or Dwb.

The region features warm summers with decreasing rainfall from east to west, alongside frigid, extremely dry winters.

The drier regions surrounding the Gobi host drought-tolerant grasses, together with forbs and low, spiny shrubs.

The southwestern slopes of the Greater Khingan range support pockets of broadleaf deciduous forest, of either Mongolian oak (Quercus mongolica), or a mixture of poplar (Populus davidiana and P. suaveolens), Siberian silver birch (Betula platyphylla), and willow (Salix rorida).

There are also grasses such as: Despite its landscaping,[clarification needed] wildlife can be found in a variety of habitats not restricted solely to the open steppe.