Aims The natural abundances of stable carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) isotopes (delta C-13 and delta N-15) are extensively used to indicate the C and N biogeochemical cycles at large spatial scales. However, the spatial patterns of delta C-13 and delta N-15 in plant-soil systems of grasslands in northern China and their main driving factors across regional climatic gradient are still not well understood. Methods We measured plant and soil delta C-13 and delta N-15 compositions as well as their associated environmental factors across 2000 km climatic gradient (-0.2 to 9 degrees C; 152 to 502 mm) in grasslands of northern China. Results The soil delta C-13 and delta N-15 values in surface were lower than those in bottom for temperate typical steppe but had no significant differences for temperate meadow steppe and temperate desert steppe. Soil delta C-13 values declined with increasing soil organic carbon (SOC) but increased as mean annual temperature (MAT). These changes were attributed to the microbial decomposition rate. The delta N-15 values in soil and plant were negatively correlated with MAT and mean annual precipitation (MAP), which were mainly related to the low soil organic matter mineralization rate and the shift of dominant species from C-4 to C-3. Conclusions Our results indicate the spatial patterns and different influencing factors on delta C-13 and delta N-15 values along the climatic gradient in grasslands of northern China. The findings will provide scientific references for future research on the C and N biogeochemical cycles of temperate grasslands.