Persistent cold events (PCEs) are picked out from winter daily mean temperature datasets of 522 stations in China from 1959-2011. The frequency of PCEs occurrence was calculated when MJO was in different phases and the influence of MJO on winter PCEs in China was investigated from viewpoints of vertical motion and meridional circulation anomaly. Statistical result shows that PCEs occur more frequently in most regions of China when MJO is in phase 2 and 3. When MJO moves to phase 5 and 6, PCEs occurrence regions are confined to northern China and when MJO is in phase 7, southern China has a higher probability of PCEs occurrence. Furthermore, the possible mechanisms was investigated and indicated that MJO can lead to the local Hadley cell anomaly through exciting Rossby wave, then it is possible to affect the significant vertical motion anomalies in east Asia, finally MIO can change the paths or regions of cold air movement because of evolution of atmospheric circulation there.