Based on particle size and magnetic measurements of the red clay profile from Jieshou ( 29°02'94"N, 119~027'15〃E),Jinhua-Quzhou basin, this paper is aimed to investigate the vertical variations of magnetic characteristics, its influencing factors and paleoenvironmental implications. The profile is 920cm in thickness, which comprises vermiculated red clay (920~260cm),in which a amount of not completely weathering gravel is contained between 920 ~ 740cm,uniform red clay (260 ~ 90cm ) and top soil (90 ~ 0cm). Samples were collected at 5cm intervals above the depth of 230cm, and 10cm intervals below that depth. A total of 115 samples were obtained from the profile. Particle-size analysis shows that silt ( 4 ~ 63mum ) is the dominant fraction, ranging from 41% ~ 68% with a mean of 61%. On the whole, clay and sand fractions decline upward, while silt fraction shows the opposite trend. The grain-size frequency curves show typical aeolian characteristics throughout the whole profile. However, the grain-size distributions of the lower part (920~430cm) have an additional coarser fraction in the range of 1 phi to 3 phi, suggesting a proximal source or alluvial fraction. The 10~ 50mum fraction, so-called basic dust fraction" , accounts for 34% on average. Correlation analysis between magnetic parameters and particle size suggests that ferrimagnetic minerals are mainly associated with silt fraction, while antiferromagnetic minerals with clay and sand fraction. The below 430cm of Jieshou profile have a coarse fraction,but because of the small percentage of sand fraction,contribution of sand fraction to the bulk magnetic properties is small in comparison to the fine-grained silt and clay fractions. Below 430cm,magnetic susceptibility (chi),frequency-dependent susceptibility ( chi_(fd)),susceptibility of Anhysteretic Remanent Magnetization (chi_(ARM) ),and demagnetization parameters S_(-ratio) are low with minor variations. In contrast, Saturation Isothermal Remanent Magnetization ( SIRM ) and Hard Isothermal Remanent Magnetization ( HIRM ) are high with similar variations. It suggests that ferrimagnetic mineral is a minor contributor to SIRM compared to antiferromagnetic mineral. Above 430cm, chi, chi_(fd), chi_(ARM), chi_(ARM)/SIRM and S_(-ratio) increase towards the surface, with chi, chi_(fd) and chi_(ARM) increasing rapidly above 170cm. SIRM and HIRM show a rapid decrease from 430cm to 370cm. Starting from 370cm, SIRM shows a similar upward trend with that of chi while HIRM remains stable and low. It suggests that ferrimagnetic mineral becomes the dominant contributor to SIRM in the layer above 370cm. To summary, the magnetic characteristics of Jieshou profile indicates that magnetic mineral components change from a dominance of antiferromagnetic minerals into ferrimagnetic minerals from bottom upward. The magnetic profile is similar to that of JL ( 29°42'N , 116°02'E)red clay section at Jiujiang, Jiangxi Province, which is of aeolian origin. It reflects that the vertical changes of magnetic properties of red clay is mainly controlled by degree of chemical weathering,although particle size analysis suggests sediment source changes at the depth of 430cm below the surface. Since antiferromagnetic hematite is formed under a warmer and hotter climatic condition than ferrimagnetic magnetite,the magnetic properties of Jieshou profile indicates that climate changes from extreme hot-humid to dry-cold condition since the Middle Pleistocene.