To explore the relationship between radial growth of Picea brachytyla and climatic factors in Shangri-La and temporal dynamics,we collected tree ring cores of the species at its upper distributional limits in Potatso National Park and Shika Snow Mountain,and established residual chronologies by using tree ring width data. We further analyzed relationships between the residual chronologies and climatic factors (temperature and precipitation) in different periods by using response function analysis. The mean temperature in July of current year and October of previous year was the main factor affecting the radial growth of P. brachytyla in 1961-2011,and this phenomenon was even more pronounced after the occurrence of abrupt warming in 1984. Tree growth was only affected by temperature in 1985-2011,by showing a significant and negative correlation with the monthly mean and minimum temperature of previous September and October,but a significant and positive correlation with July monthly mean and minimum temperature of current year. From 1961 to 1984,tree growth was affected by both temperature and precipitation,showing a significant and negative correlation with current May precipitation and current October mean temperature.