Grazing by livestock in northern China's grasslands affects plant communities and ecosystem stability. A study over 5 years in different grassland types showed that grazing reduces the stability of plant biomass. Heavy grazing decreases community biomass, species richness, and species asynchrony. Grazing mainly affects stability by decreasing species asynchrony. Meadow steppe stability is driven by grass species, while desert steppe stability is influenced by forb species. Grazing practices can change the stability of grassland plant communities by altering different plant groups.