Research on historical climate plays a crucial referential role in understanding the climate and its variation patterns in specific regions and periods, as well as in predicting future climate change. This study focuses on woody plants recorded in Xijin Zhi Jiyi (Collected Fragments of the Xijin Zhi), a historical document depicting Beijing’s general condition over 650 years ago. Using textual research methods, 11 out of 19 recorded woody plant names were identified to species level, 3 to genus level, 1 to family level, 1 was identified as a non-native species, and 3 remained uncertain. Based on this identification, climate-related studies were carried out on the 11 species-confirmed woody plants using data from the Atlas of Woody Plants in China: Distribution and Climate and the Coexistence Approach. Six key climate parameters were determined. Statistical analysis indicates that over 650 years ago, mean annual temperature in Beijing was 0.04 °C higher than today. However, during the hottest month, temperatures were 6.82% cooler than modern values, while in the coldest month, they were 138.14% warmer. Precipitation in Beijing was 88.49% higher overall than present levels. In the warmest season, rainfall was 313.55% greater, and in the coldest season, it was 1313.67% higher. These results suggest that Beijing’s climate over 650 years ago was slightly warmer overall with less variability in temperature compared to the modern era. Precipitation was significantly higher than today. In general, the Beijing region had a warm and humid climate during that period.

Revision and collation of Chinese type specimens from the Harvard University Herbaria and the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium of New York Botanical Garden led to the discovery of errors in the designation of type specimens in the protologues of several taxa names. Following the Article 9.2 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code, 2018), the typographical errors of collecting number in the protologues of 64 taxa from China were corrected.

Examination and collation of Chinese type specimens from the University Herbarium, University of California, the Harvard University Herbaria and the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium of New York Botanical Garden led to the discovery of errors in the designation of type specimens in the protologues of several names. Following Article 9.2 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code, 2018), typographical errors in the citation of collection numbers in the protologues of 23 Chinese vascular plants were corrected.

Revision and collation of Chinese type specimens from the Harvard University Herbaria and the William and Lynda Steere Herbarium of New York Botanical Garden led to the discovery of errors in the designation of type specimens in the protologues of several taxa names. Following the Article 9.2 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Shenzhen Code, 2018), the typographical errors of collecting number in the protologues of 64 taxa from China were corrected.

To address the scarcity of natural archives in historical climate reconstruction, this study utilized the late Ming Dynasty text Jiu Jing Yi Shi (Reminiscences of the Old Capital) as a primary data source to extract botanical and phenological information, aiming to quantitatively reconstruct climate parameters for the Beijing region circa 1644 CE. Using botanical textual research, 11 out of 20 recorded plant names were identified to the species level, 2 to the genus level, and 7 were classified as non-native species. Breaking from the traditional reliance solely on woody plants, we innovatively incorporated three herbaceous species into the coexistence analysis framework to enhance the accuracy of climate reconstruction. By comprehensively comparing four climate indicators—mean annual temperature (MAT), mean temperature of the coldest month (MTCM), mean temperature of the warmest month (MTWM), and annual precipitation (AP)—across three critical nodes (1368 CE, 1644 CE, and the present), this research revealed a “decline-then-rise” trajectory in Beijing’s temperature over the past 600 years, alongside corresponding variations in precipitation patterns. Results indicated that the cooling event in the Beijing region between 1368 CE and 1644 CE was synchronous with global cooling trends during the same period and demonstrated a climatic transition from maritime to continental characteristics in the region. This work not only expands the application of historical literature in paleoclimatology but also provides critical scientific evidence for understanding centennial-scale climate evolution in the East Asian monsoon region and predicting future climate trends.