Based on the surface temperature data of the 86 stations in East China during 1961 to 2013, the author analyzed the variation of accumulated temperature steadily above 10℃ and discussed the characteristics of climatic zones during 1961 to 2013 by using trend analysis, Kriging spatial interpolation method, Mann-kendall mutation test and Pearson correlation analysis. The results showed:(1) in recent 53 years, the accumulated temperature steadily above 10℃ and the duration days were increasing at the rate of 89.71℃·d·10y~(-1) (P<0.01) and 2.96 d·10y~(-1) (P<0.05) respectively in East China, this phenomenon was mainly because of the advance of beginning date and the delaying of ending date. Furthermore, the advancing of beginning date was more influential than the delaying of ending date. (2) The accumulated temperature steadily ≥10℃ and duration days presented an obvious latitude and vertical zonal characteristic. And the change rate showed a decrease trend from east to west, from the centre to the north and south. (3) Under the background of global warming, the climatic zone had a trend of extending to northward and eastward in East China. South subtropical zone and central subtropical zone was gradually expanding, respectively shift 1.2 and 2.2 degrees. While north subtropical zone and temperate zone showed a decreasing trend. The northern boundary of mid-subtropical zone shifted 2.0°. Overall the climatic zones shifted northward. (4) Responding to temperature rose, the heat resources highlighted the sustained days increased, and the beginning date advanced as well as the ending date delayed. The correlation between the accumulated temperature and the average temperature was the best.