This paper deals with the characteristics and classification of major soils in the mountaiainous area of the southern Anhui Province. The soils in the area are strongly weathered and leached, with obvious enrichment of alumina. The characteristics of soils varied with the altitude. In B horizons of the soils distributed below 600-700m above sea level, the soil colour is reddish brown or bright reddish brown (5YR5/6-5/8), the ratio of silt/clay smaller than 1.00, the coefficient of weathering and eluviation lower than 0.35, the base saturation lower than 35% and the silica-alumina ratio of clay smaller than 2.4. Kaolinite is dominant in clay minerals. Both the degree of activation and the degree of complex of iron oxide are low. HA/FA in surface soils is smaller than 0.35. The soils belong to yellow-red soil (a subgroup of red aoil).