Abstract: The results of 1979 and 1985 National Survey of Physical constitution are used to discuss the urban-rural differences in height growth acceleration and the change of trunk ratio. The followings are concluded: (1) The height growth and maturation accelerated in the period of 6 years for both urban and rural Chinese children; (2) The height increment and advancing of Maximum Growth Age for height and sitting height of rural children are more obvious than that of urban children; (3) The change of height and trunk ratio are easily seen in puberty; (4) The change of height and trunk ratio are mainly resulted from the change of growth tempo.

Key words: Acceleration of height growth; Trunk ratio; Growth and development; Urban-rural difference; Tempo of maturation