Abstract: Vegetation on the emerged continental shelves of the South China Sea (SCS) during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) was deduced based on pollen of hemipelagic sediments from the continental slopes and the consideration of pollen transport dynamics and source areas. During the LGM (including the top of Oxygen Isotope Stage 3) the sea level might be more than 100 m lower than that of the present. Consequently, both northern and southern continental shelves of the SCS were exposed. The northern continental shelf was covered by grassland mainly of Artem/s/a. The climate should be cold and dry, whereas on the southern continental shelf (Sunda Land) was spread tropical lowland rainforest and mangroves were scattered by the river mouths and along the coast. The climate might be cooler than that in the present day, but drop of humidity was not observed.

Key words: Last Glacial Maximum, South China Sea, Continental shelf, Vegetation, Pollen