Abstract: In this study, by using meteorological and disaster data in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River from 1980 to 2009, the days of minimum temperature less than -5℃ in overwintering period and the days of minimum temperature less than 0℃ during bud to flowering stage were analysed with temporalspatial characteristics; the changes of freezing injury during rape key growth stages were compared in different ages. The results indicated that, the days of minimum temperature ＜-5℃ in overwintering period and the days of minimum temperature ＜0℃ during bud to flowering stage showed a decreasing trend since 1980. There were more days of low temperature in Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, and the age with a higher number of days of low temperatures was 1980s. The numbers of rape freezing injury during overwintering period, bud and flowering stage had declined in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River during 1980~2009. There were more years of frost damage at bud and flowering stage and fewer years of freezing injury in overwintering period. Anhui and Jiangsu provinces were the main regions with freezing injury in overwintering period. Apart from Shanghai, freezing injury during bud to flowering stage was occurred more than half of the years in other provinces. It is suggested to take countermeasures in breeding, cultivation and farming to mitigate the impact of freezing injury during key growth stages on rape production in the lower reaches of the Yangtze River