Abstract: There is no report of large samples about variations of stature and body mass of rural Han in China increasing with latitude and longitude. As a result of this lack, we measured 13 indicators including stature and weight of 16501 rural Han adults in 36 areas in China from 2009 to 2013. From these measurements we calculated three indices. The results of this research show that stature and latitude of rural Han adults is positively correlated, and that the height of the trunk and lower limb all increased with latitude. With latitude increasing, the velocity of the lower extremity and length increase in males exceeding a positive correlation between body mass and latitude. The increase in stature, trunk circumference, limb circumference of females, and back subcutaneous fat also exceeded the positive correlation between body mass and latitude. This increase in stature was due to an increase in the lower extremity length. With latitude increasing, there was also an increase in Chinese rural Han stature and trunk circumference, thickness of female triceps skinfold, subscapular skinfold, and supraspinale skinfold. Variations in all the factors above shows a positive correlation between body mass and latitude in our sample. Stature and body mass of males and females are positively correlated with longitude, which means that stature and body mass of rural Han linearly increase with longitude. Stature of males and females show a positive correlation with trunk and lower limbs that are linearly increasing with longitude. Larger stature and thicker trunks associated with longitude in male Han is why body mass is correlated with longitude. Subcutaneous fat of the trunk and limbs are not linearly increased with longitude. Stature and hip circumference of females linearly correlated with longitude explains why female body mass is correlated with longitude. Heredity, geographical conditions and economic development have led to stature and body mass being positively correlated with longitude. Differences of genetic, environment and level of economic development are the main factors that influence different physical characteristics of the Han in southern and northern China.

Key words: Stature; Body mass; Han; Latitude; Longitude