Abstract: Objective To explore physical development and characteristics of premature infants, so as to provide evidence for developing intervention measures for child health care in Quanzhou.Methods Totally, 242 cases of premature infants were recruited as study subjects.Z-score of physical growth indicators including weight-for-age (W/A), length-for-age (L/A), body mass index(BMI) were calculated based on their birth at actual and corrected month age, or corrected 40 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 8 months, 12 months, 18 months and 24 months age. 211 full-term newborns were selected as the control group at the same period to analyze and evaluate the trends and characteristics of the physical development of premature infants.Results Within 12 months (corrected 8 months age) after birth, Z-score of W/A and L/A of premature infants showed an overall upward trend, starting fast then slowingdown.It increased fastest within 6 months of age and presented an insignificant rise or a fluctuating trend from 12 months(corrected 8 months age) to 24 months(corrected 24 months age).Conclusion Growth of weight and height occurs to most of the premature infants within12 months after birth(corrected 8 months age). The first 6 months after birth is critical for growth. Growth of body weight is faster than that of body height.