Abstract: Since the concept of the Gigantopithecus Fauna was proposed in 1957, there has been considerable progress in the study of Early Pleistocene mammals in South China. So far, the Gigantopithecus Fauna is known from 12 sites distributed across the five provinces of South China, plus some significant fossils and cultural relics of early humans. The information furnished by these discoveries is of great help in understanding the evolution of early humans and the development of human culture. In the present paper, the mammal faunas of the Early Pleistocene are divided into 3 biostratigraphic stages, each containing a representative assemblage of mammals. Based on a multiply stratigraphic division and comparison, some problems relating to these faunas are discussed, and some new opinions on their stratigraphic correlations are put forward. Zoogeographic regions and transitional zones in the Early Pleistocene of South China are also illustrated.

Key words: South China; Early Pleistocene; Mammalian Fauna and Gigantopithecus Fauna; Stratigraphic correlation; Transitional zone