The eddy covariance technique was used to measure the CO₂ flux over four differently grazed Leymus chinensis steppe ecosystems (ungrazed since 1979 (UG79), winter grazed (WG), continuously grazed (CG), and heavily grazed (HG) sites) during four growing seasons (May to September) from 2005 to 2008, to investigate the response of the net ecosystem exchange (NEE) over grassland ecosystems to meteorological factors and grazing intensity. At UG79, the optimal air temperature for the half-hourly NEE occurred between 17 and 20 °C, which was relatively low for semi-arid grasslands. The saturated NEE (NEE_sat) and temperature sensitivity coefficient (Q₁₀) of ecosystem respiration (RE) exhibited clear seasonal and interannual variations, which increased with canopy development and the soil water content (SWC, at 5 cm). The total NEE values for the growing seasons from 2005 to 2008 were −32.0, −41.5, −66.1, and −89.8 g C m⁻², respectively. Both the amounts and distribution of precipitation during the growing season affected the NEE. The effects of grazing on the CO₂ flux increased with the grazing intensity. During the peak growth stage, heavy grazing and winter grazing decreased NEE_sat and gross primary production (45 % for HG and 34 % for WG) due to leaf area removal. Both RE and Q₁₀ were clearly reduced by heavy grazing. Heavy grazing changed the ecosystem from a CO₂ sink into a CO₂ source, and winter grazing reduced the total CO₂ uptake by 79 %. In the early growing season, there was no difference in the NEE between CG and UG79. In addition to the grazing intensity, the effects of grazing on the CO₂ flux also varied with the vegetation growth stages and SWC.