Background, aim, and scope The change of regional environment is related to the well-being of human beings. The study of regional response characteristics of global change could help reveal the background and laws of variations in the climatic elements at the regional scale. Tianshui is located on the northern edge of the subtropical zone in the northeastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is an ideal place to study the regional temperature response of global warming. Due to the continental monsoon climate, Tianshui has a fragile ecological environment. Therefore, the characteristics of temperature changes in the northwestern monsoon region obtained from this study have certain regional representation and indicative significance. Materials and methods Based on the monthly average temperature data of Tianshui from 1901 to 2016, using the linear regression, 5-year moving average and Mann-Kendall non-parametric test, the variation characteristics of Tianshui temperature on different scales during the past 116 years were analyzed. Results The annual average temperature in Tianshui was generally rising from 1901 to 2016, with a tendency rate 0.058℃ ·(10a)~(-1). The four seasons showed warming trends and the increasing rates in spring, summer, autumn and winter were 0.084℃ ·(10a)~(-1), 0.019℃ ·(10a)~(-1), 0.022℃ ·(10a)~(-1), 0.102℃ ·(10a)~(-1). The trend of warming occurred in the coldest month (January) and the hottest month (July), and the linear tendency rates were 0.085℃ ·(10a)~(-1) and 0.038℃ ·(10a)~(-1). The abrupt years of annual average temperature occurred in 1923 and 1993. The similar abrupt years appeared in both spring and autumn average temperature. The summer temperature mutations were advanced and lagged, and the winter temperature mutation year occurred in 1978. For the coldest month in January, the average temperature was abruptly changed in 1977, and that of the hottest month in July was concentrated in the 2000s period. Discussion Global climate change has a wide-ranging impact on the natural environment and human society. The influence of rising temperature is one of the main manifestations. The analysis of temperature variation characteristics on the regional scale could help to cope with the adverse effects of climate change and enhance adaptability. Conclusions The temperature of annual, seasonal and monthly scales of the Tianshui region generally showed an upward trend from 1901 to 2016, and there were significant mutation signals, which were consistent with the background of global warming. Recommendations and perspectives The variations of climate elements are closely related to the coordinated development of regional natural environment and human society. Temperature as an important climatic factor, it is necessary to reveal its long-term features that will help to reduce the risk of climate disasters and enhance regional defense against the background of global warming.