Abstract: Objective To study the somatotypes of Han in urban areas of Hu’nan. Methods The Heath-Carter method was used to study the adult somatotype of 320 adults (157 males and 163 females) of Han in Shuangfeng city of Hu’nan province. Results The mean somatotype values of the urban males and females were 4.3-5.1-1.7 and 5.4-4.7-1.4 in Xiang dialect group, which respresented the endomorphic-mesomorphy category in males and mesomorphic-endomorphy category in females. Urban males’endomorphy and mesomorphy reached the highest values in 40-49 age group, ectomorphy reached the highest values in 20-29 age group. In city females the values of Endomorph and Mesomorph increased with age, reached the highest value in over 60- age group, Ectomorph reached the highest value in 20-29 age group. The top of somatotypes frequency were endomorphic mesomorph category, endomorph-mesomorph category and mesomorph endomorphic category. The somatotype of urban males was close to those of Mongol, Ewenki, Canadian and far away from Zhuang, Manus. The somatotype of urban females was close to those of Ewenki,Daur and far away from Zhuang, Gelao,Manus. Conclusion City adults of Xiang dialect group have the common chararters of somatotype with north China typ

Key words: Xiang dialect group, Shuangfeng city, Heath-Carter method, Human