Spatial patterns of Asian summer monsoon precipitation in the Chinese monsoon region since the LGM

Despite numerous proxy-based reconstructions of climate since the Last Glacial Maximum, spatial hydroclimate variability in the Chinese monsoon region remains enigmatic. Here, we examine four stalagmites from northern China that collectively provide a continuous, highly resolved multi-proxy record over the past 25.5 ka. δ18O records capture large-scale variations in Asian summer monsoon (ASM) circulation, whereas trace element ratios and δ13C reflect regional precipitation variability; both follow precessional rhythms. Chinese stalagmite δ18O exhibits a zonal tripolar pattern, reflecting moisture sources and transport pathways. During Termination I, a meridional tripolar spatial precipitation pattern emerged, driven by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and mid-latitude westerlies dynamics. While precipitation peaked during the Middle Holocene, ASM circulation was strongest in the Early Holocene, a dipole hydrological pattern linked to residual Northern Hemisphere ice volume. A similar tripolar pattern re-emerged during the 4.2 ka event, suggesting a dominant role of ENSO in shaping this anomaly.