From 1985,Lin Peng and his research team began mangrove research in the aspect of plant origin and distribution and set up cold-tolerant classes and seral classes in mangrove species in China.Combined with suitable lands for mangrove forestation,one aspect of their intensive studies was focused on the eco-physiological adaptive mechanisms and the mangrove afforestation practice.The serial studies are in the frontier in mangrove global change ecology in China and even over the world, which provide us solid foundations today.In this review,we focus on three aspects of achievements of Lin Peng and his research team for the last three decades:the cold-tolerant classes and their response to warming and extreme climate,seral classes and their adaptation to sea-level rise,and selection of suitable land for mangrove forestation.