Abstract: The study on quaternary glacial refugia of plants is important to understand the current distribution pattern and future speciation of plants. This is one of the hot topics in global change ecology. In this paper, we briefed the glacial extent of the quaternary glaciations and the influences on the distribution of plants in China mainland. The features of potential quaternary glacial refugia of plants, in particular, biodiversity and the existence of relict species in some special localities in China mainland, were discussed. We also introduced the application of the fossil pollen records and molecular biology technology in identifying glacial refugia of plants and some important work made in China in this field. In this review, a comparison with work carried in other countries was also made with an aim at promoting the related studies in China.

Key words: quaternary glaciations, refugia, plants, China mainland