9 palynological assemblages and 12 climatic stages are recognized based on the spore-pollen records of the coring hole DZS2(240.1 meter-long)in the offshore area to the north Zhoushan Islands,East China Sea.It is up to date the deepest whole coring hole in that part of China.Quaternary climatic stages are established in a succession as follows:temperate-dry,a little cold-dry,warm and moist,temperatecold and a little dry,temperate-cold and dry,warm and moist,temperate-cold and moist,warm and moist,warm and a little dry,temperate and a little dry,warm and moist.The local fluctuations of climate coincide with regional climate changes.Combined with dating data of AMS ~(14) C,OSL and palaeomagnetism, the Pliocene evolution of climate and environment in the area off the north Zhoushan Islands are discussed.The palynological data has laid solid basis for Pliocene stratigraphic classification and correlation in the offshore North Zhoushan area.