【Objective】To study the temperature condition of early rice from transplanting to maturity in southern China during 1961-2015, combined with different transplant periods of early rice, characteristics of temporal and spatial distribution of temperature suitability and high temperature days from heading - flowering to milk ripe and maturity of early rice were quantitatively analyzed under the climate change and different transplant periods.【Method】Four planting regions of early rice were divided into Hainan (region 1), South China (region 2), the north of Guangxi (region 3) and the south of the Yangtze River (region 4). The temperature suitability and high temperature days from heading to maturity were calculated in three scenes of normal and 5 d and 10 d in advance transplant in 4 regions during 1961-2015. Every five days was used to be the study scale. The evaluation index of temperature suitability in critical growth stage of early rice was established based on pentad scale to analyze the responses of heading to flowering and milk ripe and maturity of early rice to climate change and different transplant period. 【Result】The results showed that: (1) The annual temperature from transplant to maturity in different regions of early rice was slowly rising and the tendency rate was between 0.097 ℃·(10 a)~(-1) to 0.192 ℃·(10 a)~(-1). The 1990 s was the fewest days of high temperatures from heading to maturity, while the most in 21st century. (2) The highest temperature suitability was in region 3 in different ages in the space, while the lowest in region 4. The high temperature suitability distribution in the 1990 s was greater than other ages. (3) It was beneficial to improve the temperature suitability in advance transplant in region 1, 2 and 4, but it was opposite in region 3. The high temperature days were reduced in advance transplant in region 2, 3 and 4, but it was opposite in region 1. (4) The characteristic of the temperature suitability in typical station of Meixian in Guangdong province was down-up-down, while it was declined significantly after entering 2000. The characteristics of high temperature days were continue to rise, which were 9.6 days in 1960 s and 17.2 days during 2011-2015. Meanwhile 5 d or 10 d in advance transplant could raise the temperature suitability and reduce high temperature days. 【Conclusion】 In general, it was beneficial to improve temperature suitability from heading to flowering and milk ripe and maturity of early rice and reduce high temperature days in South China and South of the Yangtze River, which could reduce the influence of high temperature on early rice.