Altitudinal vegetation belts in the Tianshan Mountains of China have shifted in response to climate change from 1989 to 2015. Forest tree lines and subalpine steppe belts moved to higher altitudes due to rising temperatures. Low-altitude steppe belts showed different changes across the region, while high-altitude belts were consistent. Increasing temperatures were the main factor driving these shifts, affecting animal husbandry and pasture development differently in eastern, central, and western areas. The nival belt's lower limit rose in all regions, potentially increasing surface runoff in central and western parts.