The spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of winter temperature over North China and the spatial distribution features of atmospheric general circulation and sea surface temperature (SST) are studied by using the monthly mean temperature of 160 stations over China from 1951 to 2003, the global NCEP/NCAR analyzed data, and the SST data from the climate diagnostic center of NOAA, through such analysis methods as EOF, linear tendency variation, MK examination, correlation, and t test. The results indicate: (1) the winter temperature over North China had a unanimous spatial variation trend, greater than normal or less than normal unanimously, with the cold years being in the period of 1951 to 1987 and the warm years in the period of 1987 to 2003; (2) there were differences in atmospheric general circulation patterns between cold and warm years, and polar vortex, with the highpressure ridge around Ural Mountains, the East Asian trough, and the Mongolian high pressure being important influence factors; (3) there was good relationship between winter temperature of North China and SST along the offshore of China.