By using 30-year NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data and MICAPS observation data provided by China Meteorological Administration, the northeast China cold vortexes (NECVs) in May- September were detected and tracked by the method of subjective and objective combination. In recent 30 years, the occurrences of NECVs was increasing year by year. On average, about 7.4 NECV processes occurred in northeast China per year which lasted 3–5d. The frequency was highest in May, lowest in August and September. In May-July, the longest time influenced by NECVs can exceed 19d with the annual mean of 9.9d, 8.8d and 7.0d, respectively. According to different characteristics, NECVs were divided into different types: north, middle and south cold vortex (NCV, MCV and SCV) as well as strong and weak NECV. SCVs mainly occurred in May and June. The frequency of the weak NECVs was about 1.2 times that of the strong NECVs. Strong NCVs in late spring and early autumn as well as the weak MCVs in summer were with high-frequency occurrences. It was found that when the NCVs occurred in late spring and early autumn, the upper-level westerly jets were stronger, thus strengthening the divergence in the upper troposphere and the vortex circulation. The circulation fields in upper and lower levels cooperated with the strong jets, promoting the continuous development and maintenance of the cold vortexes. Other than the jets and circulation, the lower central potential height combined with the obvious cold core and stronger ascending motions was conducive to NCV’s development. In addition, dry invasion had a strong promotion due to the stronger lower-levels cold advection and downward intrusion of high potential vorticity (PV). When MCVs occurred in summer, things were just opposite.