This book provides a wealth of high-quality scientific information on the patterns and processes of vegetation change across a broad range of spatial and temporal scales, concentrating on southwestern China, mostly on the Yunnan region, and extending to the Yangtze River valley near the boundaries separating Chongqing, Sichuan and Guizhou. This is the first work to present a contemporary survey and analysis of the special character and value of the subtropical vegetation of southwestern China. In addition, the author also considers present day vegetation in the context of geological events and evolution, and with reference to ecological factors and human activities. The author has conducted extensive field work in the region and the book benefits from her deep and sophisticated understanding of how vegetation dynamics evolve, how plants persist, and how plant diversity has changed over time and space in the Yunnan region. Included are comparisons and links with similar systems around the world. The book provides a clear, concise account of the patterns and processes surrounding the subtropical vegetation of southwestern China, making frequent use of line illustrations, color maps and photos to support its exhaustive analysis of this often complex topic. Special attention is paid to several Tertiary relict forests that only recently have been identified and studied. This book will serve as a point of departure for future researchers as they trace and interpret the evolution of the natural environment.