Abstract. This article investigates the relationship between net primary production (NPP) of Chinese fir, temperature and precipitation. The spatial–temporal NPP pattern in the potential distribution area of Chinese fir from 2000–2010 was estimated utilizing a MODIS MOD17 product in a geographic information system (GIS) environment. The results showed that the highest NPP value of Chinese fir is in the Fujian province in the eastern part of the study region. The relationship between NPP of Chinese fir and climate variables was analyzed spatially and temporally. On the regional scale, precipitation showed higher correlation coefficients with NPP than did temperature. The spatial variability pattern indicated that temperature was more important in central and eastern regions (e.g. Hunan and Fujian province), while precipitation was crucial in the northern part (e.g. Anhui province). Zonal analysis revealed that the impact of precipitation on the production was more complicate than that of temperature; larger amount of precipitation is not always corresponding with greater NPP value. When compared to natural forests, plantations appear to be more sensitive to the variability of precipitation, which indicates their higher vulnerability under climate change. Temporally, NPP values decreased despite of increasing temperatures, and the decrease was larger in plantations than among other vegetation types.