Abstract: This paper analyzes the development course and characteristics of rice production in South China. Rice production in South China is facing serious situations such as the production decline, inefficient recovery from single cropping rice to double cropping rice, and the preference of japonica to indica rice. From a long term point of view, the middle reaches of the Yangtze River will becoming increasingly important for rice production in South China in future. It is pointed out that rice production in South China is restricted by the natural and labor resources, the technical bottlenecks, the small-scale production pattern, and unsustainable incentive by Grain Subsidy Policy (GSP). Taken together, we propose that for the steady development of rice production in South China, we should maintain the rice planting areas, intensify the scientific technologies in variety breeding and cultivation, develop new managements and services, and adjust the orientation of agro-policies.