The variability of the northern circumpolar vortex and its association with the climate anomaly in China is investigated with using near 50 a NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data of atmosphere and observation data of Chinese stations, by defining a total area index of the circumpolar vortex. By analyzing the local variation of circumpolar vortex and using SVD method, the relationship between the local variation of the circumpolar vortex and the climate anomaly in China is documented. The variability in total area of the northern circumpolar vortex is characterized by consistently expanding or contracting. The linear trend over last 50 years is found to be contracting, which is closely associated with global warming, especially with polar warming. Superimposed on this trend are the interannual to interdecadal variabilities with principal periods 3~5 years and 8~12 years. So, it would be rational to investigate relationship between the circumpolar vortex and the climate in China with different time scales. It is found that such a relationship is more evident on the interdecadal time scale. When the northern circumpolar vortex consistently contracts, most of China tends to be warmer and wetter during winter, while Northeast China, North China, Southwest China and South China are warmer and drier and Changjiang-Huaihe River valley is cooler and wetter during summer; and vice versa. The local variation of the northern circumpolar vortex is mainly associated with amplitude variations of the long wave in the midlatitude westerly belt. Its association with the climate anomaly in China is mainly on the interannual time scale. When East Asian trough weakens, east and central China are warmer and wetter during winter, while Changjiang-Huaihe River valley and Sichuan Basin are cooler and no obvious relation is found in precipitation during summer; and vice versa.