【Objective】 The objective of this study was to predict the potential distribution areas of Ipo- moea cairica in China under climate change, which would provide guidance for preventing I. cairica invasion. 【Method】 Maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) combined with worldwide occurrence data (1 695 records) and climate factors (19 biological variables) was used to predict the potential distribution areas of I. cairica in China. Seven general circulation models (GCM) and 4 scenarios of representative concentration pathways (RCP) of CO_2 emission were used for 28 ecological niche models (ENMs) for three eras (2030s, 2050s and 2080s)· 【Result】 The MaxEnt model obtained high accuracy with the AUC of 0.943. The MaxEnt model predicted that extremely high suitable areas for I. cairica mainly located in Guangxi, Guang- dong,Fujian and Taiwan,and high suitable areas mainly located in South Yunnan,Hainan,North Guangxi, North Fujian,North Guangdong and partial Taiwan. Its potential suitable area was larger than its current distribution in China. Under climate change,its suitable area in China tended to decrease in future (2030s, 2050s and 2080s). In general, its suitable area in Central and North China would disappear but expend in Hunan,Jiangxi,Zhejiang and Sichuan. Under the current climate,the distribution of J. cairica was mainly influenced by temperature factors,including annual mean temperature, temperature seasonality,minimum temperature of coldest month, temperature annual range,mean temperature of driest quarter, and mean temperature of coldest quarter.【Conclusion】 Climate change would inhibit the expansion of I. cairica in China but increase the invasion potential in Central China.