Objective of the Han ethnic groups of Jianghuai Dialect on urban and rural adults. Methods In accordance with the methods of Martin, Anthropometric Methods and Anthropomorphic Handbook, 86 physical characteristics of 370 males (157 urban males and 213 rural males) and 362 females (154 urban females and 208 rural females)of Han were investigated in Huaian county of Jiangsu province.Twenty-six physical indices were calculated and their distributions were analyzd. The physical characteristics of the Han ethnic groups of Jianghuai Dialect were preliminarily analyzed. Results 1.The percentages of eyefold of the upper eyelid were higher. The percentages of mongoloid fold were lower. The opening height of eyeslits was middle. External angles were higher than internal angles in direction of eyeslits. The nasal root height was middle-type. The nasal profile was straight. The nasal base was upturned. The zygomatic projection was tiny.The height of alae nasi belonged to middle-type. The maximal diameter of nostrils was oblique.The lobe types were triangle and round. The upper lip skin height belonged to middle-type. Thickness of lips were mainly thin. Hair color was black and skin color was yellow.The eye color was brown. In the breadth of alae nasi, male was widetype and female was middle-type. 2.Typical physical characteristics of the Han ethnic groups of Jianghuai Dialect were brachycephaly, hypsicephalic type, metriocephalic type, mesorrhiny, long trunk, subbrachyskelic type and broad chest circumference. In addition, males were euryprosopy, broad shoulder breadth and broad distance between iliac crests.Females were mesoprosopy, middle shoulder breadth and middle distance between iliac crests. 3.Typical physical characteristics of the Han ethnic groups of Jianghuai Dialect were super middle-sized stature. Conclusion The circumference
and skinfold thickness of urban males are larger than rural males, while females are the opposite result. The Han ethnic groups of Jianghuai Dialect are relatively close to the North Asian type ethnic groups, but some physical characteristics are close to the ethnic groups of South Asian type of Mongoloid.