<p>This study examines the intricate relationship between international scientific collaboration and citation impact in geocryology, focusing on the partnership dynamics between China and the USA. The analysis reveals that more than one-third of geocryology publications result from multinational collaboration, highlighting the growing importance of cross-border research. However, the rate of international collaboration among Chinese researchers remains below the global average. The findings suggest that while there is no simple correlation between the number of partner countries and citation rates, articles co-authored internationally generally achieve higher citation impacts than those produced domestically. Notably, optimal collaboration appears to occur with three to four countries, suggesting that medium-scale partnerships yield significant academic benefits. Further investigation shows variations in citation performance based on the leadership roles of participating nations. While China produces a higher proportion of internationally co-authored papers as the corresponding author, these papers have a lower impact per citation compared to those led by the USA. Factors contributing to this discrepancy include geographic distribution, differences in research priorities, and access to international networks. Overall, this study underscores the complex nature of international scientific collaboration, emphasizing that factors beyond mere citation metrics—such as knowledge exchange, capacity building, and community development—are crucial for maximizing the scholarly and societal value of research in geocryology.</p>