Research on the timing, extent, and distribution of the late Quaternary glaciation in the East Asia monsoon area is very important for the discussion on the mechanism of the glacier development and global climate change. New absolute ages indicate that there were clear difference of the glacial advancement and retreat in and along the mountains and islands in East Asia, including on the Taiwan Island, in Japan, Hokkaido, Kaema Highlands, and Russian. However, the glacial history was strictly constrained by the last glacial cycle (LGC) corresponding to marine isotope stage (MIS) 4 and the glacial extent during the early stage of the LGC was larger than that of the late stage. Through comparing the characteristics of the glacial action in these mountains and islands, we confirmed the main influencing factors on the glacial development in the study area. The results show that climate, tectonic uplift, latitude, and the location away from the sea affected the onset of glaciation and glacier distribution and sequence in the East Asia monsoon area. According to these conclusions, it is not possible that glaciers advanced earlier than the LGC in the lower altitude mountains of East China.