Middle Yangtze in South China is well known by the frequent occurrence of flooding in association with drought events.However, less is known about the hydrological variation in the ancient times.Here we are able to reconstruct the paleohydrological conditions since 13ka BP in this region based on the synthesis of 4proxies extracted from the Dajiuhu peatland and stalagmite in Heshang cave near Qingjiang River.Three long-term drier periods(11.7-10.7ka BP, 6.4-5.5ka BP and 4.0- 3.0ka BP)and three long-term humid/flooding periods(13.0-11.7ka BP, 8.7-6.4ka BP, 3.0-1.7ka BP), each lasting over one thousand years, were identified in this time interval.The humid period at 8.7-6.4ka BP(known as Holocene Optimum) is of a broad region or on a global scale, when the sedentary village-based rice cultivation was developed.The subsequent drier periods at 6.4-5.5ka BP is also of a broad region or even of global scale when the complicate state-level society structure was established.The long-lasting drier periods could be presented prior to or post the long-lasting humid periods.In addition, 5 short-term drought events(9.8-9.2ka BP, 9.0-8.7ka BP, 5.0-4.2ka BP, 1.7-1.1ka BP, 0.7-0.0ka BP)and 5shortterm humid periods(10.7-9.8ka BP, 9.2-9.0ka BP, 5.5-5.0ka BP, 4.2-4.0ka BP, 1.1-0.7ka BP)were also identified. In middle Yangtze region, most drier periods occurred at the warm conditions, different from the cold-drought association in North China.Meanwhile, the humid climate could occur at both the cold and warm conditions, indicating the complicate relationship between temperature and humidity.It is notable that the aridity increases when the temperature shifts from one state to another(i.e., from cold to warm or from warm to cold conditions)in Middle Yangtze.Hydrological conditions also play an important impact on historical cultures in this region.