ABSTRACTWe made a preliminary survey of the present status and ecology of the White‐lipped Deer(Cervus albirostris)in the upper Huang He and Chang Jiang River regions of China. Eight mixed herds, ranging in size from 5 to 46 animals each, were observed. The deer lived from the rhododendron scrub just above the spruce forests to alpine grasslands, ranging in altitudes from 4000 to 5000 m. The peak of the rut occurred in October, when breeding herds were composed of a few large stags and hinds. The pasturing of domestic animals in the area influences not only the spatial distribution of the deer, but also the timing of seasonal shifts. The main distribution of the deer is in western Sichuan Province and some scattered populations in Qinghai Province are endangered. The species could survive, given adequate protectio