Abstract:Two rainfall belts were observed over eastern China during the summer of 2016, with the southern one in the Yangtze River Valley (YRV) and the northern one over North China. In June and July, precipitation occurred mainly in the YRV. In August, however, precipitation was below normal in most part of eastern China, except for more precipitation over South China. The more intensified and more westward extending west Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) was one of the most important circulation factors for the southern rainfall belt over the YRV in June and July. The mean position of the high ridge was near normal. However, the high ridge retreated southward sometimes, causing more precipitation over the YRV during that time. The associated anomalous low level Philippine Sea anticyclone resulted in anomalous convergence of moisture flux over the middle and lower reaches of the YRV. Moreover, the persistent warming in the entire basin of the tropical Indian Ocean during the decaying year of extremely strong El Ni〖AKn~D〗o event acted as the important external forcing factor for the above tropical and subtropical circulation anomalies. In August, however, the WPSH fractured. Anomalous low level cyclonic circulation controlled the northwestern Pacific, which caused anomalous divergence of moisture flux over most part of eastern China. Therefore, high temperature and little precipitation occurred in the middle and lower reaches of the YRV. Further analysis indicated that the unusually active Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) in August was the important cause for the significant turning of the tropical and subtropical circulations. MJO transmitted eastward to the western Pacific and stayed there for 25 days, which is seldom seen in history.