This paper used the ERA5 reanalysis data to investigate the atmospheric circulation configurations and their evolution processes for three types of extreme low temperature events in the arid and semi-arid regions of China (dryland for brevity) during the winter half-year. This study examined the activity characteristics of transient eddies under different circulation configurations and their feedback forcing to the abnormal circulation. The results showed that the continuous amplification of tilted ridge and trough over the Eurasian continent was the key reason for extreme low temperature events in the dryland. This pair of ridge and trough was primarily maintained by the incoming low-frequency Rossby wave energy. Under its influence, transient eddies were abnormally active on the southern and northern sides of the titled ridge and trough, in which transient eddies in the south of trough guided part of cold air masses southward and further intensified the extreme low temperature events. In addition, the convergence and divergence of transient vorticity fluxes favored the continuous maintenance of tilt ridge and trough, which was conducive to amplification and eastward expansion of the low-level Siberian cold high pressure, and thus led to extreme low temperatures affecting the entire dryland. When the tilted ridge and trough were elongated longitudinally, the ridge over the Ural Mountain weakened and moved eastward as Rossby wave energy emitting downward. Correspondingly, the low-level Siberian cold high pressure also exhibited an eastward displacement, and the activity of transient waves was suppressed. The extreme low temperatures are mainly confined to the eastern dryland.