Abstract: The basic characteristics of The peat in China are as follows:Most of the peat belong to the herb peat type with rich-nutrition,having intermediate degree of decomposition with a high ash and humic acid content,an abundent quantity of nitrogen,but a low content of bitumin.In China paludification may be summarized into four types:Water-body paludification:meadow paludification;meadow paludification;forest land paludifica-tion;and frozen soil paludification.Based on the radioactive isotope C¹⁴ dating,result of sporepollen analysis and stratigraphic data,Holocene had been divided into three peak periods of peat dev-elopment with wide distribution and rapid accumulation of peat.The first peak period,datad 10300 to 9000 years BP.,was the local peatland growing period.The second peak period,dated 6000—4700 years BP.,and the third peak period,dated 3400—2000 years BP.,were the peatland widely and vigorously growing periods.The peaks of peat accumulation appeared in the periods when the climate changing from warm to cold,or from cold to warm.Because of the vast land and complicate landform in China,the last melting time of the continental glacier varied with different places,the time when peat began to accumulate was also different,The general tendency was that the time of peat accumulation in the south was earlier than in the north,in plains than in mo-untains,and in coastal areas than in inland.