Abstract: Neogene(23.0~2.6Ma, including Miocene and Pliocene) is an important transitional stage from the greenhouse climate of the Palaeogene to the icehouse climate of the Quaternary.During this period, numerous climatic, tectonic and biotic key events occurred on earth, such as the formation of the Antarctic ice sheet, enhancement of the Asian monsoon, acceleration of Tibetan Plateau uplift and expansion of C4 grasses.The study on vegetation, climate and environment in this time interval is crucial and useful for understanding the formation of their present pattern.Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is located in the internal arid area of Northwestern China, with a typical continental climate.The Neogene strata of Xinjiang distribute widely and can be divided into five regions from north to south, viz.Junggar, Tianshan, Tarim, Kunlun and Kalakunlun.Since the eighties of twenty century, more emphasis was concentrated on the northern and southern slopes of Tianshan Mountain such as Junggar and Tarim regions, especially the Cenozoic deposits from the foreland basin of the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain where a large number of researches have been done, including mammals, ostracoda, tectonic deformation and magnetostratigraphy.The Late Cenozoic vegetation is related to tectonic event in the Asian high latitude region, so palynological study is helpful in deciphering the interrelationship between orogeny and climate change.This paper reviews the Neogene palynological literature published during the last three decades in Xinjiang region, and the vegetation pattern, climate and environment evolution in the Neogene were recognized by means of temporal and spatial comparison.In the Early Miocene, forest vegetation (mainly needle- and broad-leaved mixed forest) flourished in most areas of Xinjiang due to the warm and humid climatic conditions, with the exception of steppe vegetation growing in partial area.During the Late Miocene, the climate became warm and dry.Steppe vegetation (mainly Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae) occurred in Dushanzi of Junggar region, Lop Nur area and Kuche Basin of Tarim region.Desert vegetation emerged in Jingouhe of Junggar region.Forest or forest-steppe vegetation was distributed in the other regions.However, the aridification of climate was speeded up in the Pliocene, steppe and desert-steppe occurred in Junggar region, Tarim region and Kunlun region.The gobal cooling and the acceleration of uplift of Tibetan Plateau, Kunlun Mountains and Tianshan Mountains in the Late Cenozoic might be two crucial forcing factors on the development of Neogene vegetation, climate and environment pattern in Xinjiang and the intensified aridity in Central Asia.In addition, other secondary factors should be considered, including the topography, rainfall shadow, windward and leeward of the study area and the retreat of Paratethys.Owing to the uncertainty of age control of some palynological studies, vegetation succession and environment change were inferred based on pollen assemblages and stratigraphical comparison.In the future, more studies on chronostratigraphy and quantitative reconstruction of Neogene climate in Xinjiang are necessary.Neogene(23.0~2.6Ma, including Miocene and Pliocene) is an important transitional stage from the greenhouse climate of the Palaeogene to the icehouse climate of the Quaternary.During this period, numerous climatic, tectonic and biotic key events occurred on earth, such as the formation of the Antarctic ice sheet, enhancement of the Asian monsoon, acceleration of Tibetan Plateau uplift and expansion of C4 grasses.The study on vegetation, climate and environment in this time interval is crucial and useful for understanding the formation of their present pattern.Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is located in the internal arid area of Northwestern China, with a typical continental climate.The Neogene strata of Xinjiang distribute widely and can be divided into five regions from north to south, viz.Junggar, Tianshan, Tarim, Kunlun and Kalakunlun.Since the eighties of twenty century, more emphasis was concentrated on the northern and southern slopes of Tianshan Mountain such as Junggar and Tarim regions, especially the Cenozoic deposits from the foreland basin of the northern slope of Tianshan Mountain where a large number of researches have been done, including mammals, ostracoda, tectonic deformation and magnetostratigraphy.The Late Cenozoic vegetation is related to tectonic event in the Asian high latitude region, so palynological study is helpful in deciphering the interrelationship between orogeny and climate change.This paper reviews the Neogene palynological literature published during the last three decades in Xinjiang region, and the vegetation pattern, climate and environment evolution in the Neogene were recognized by means of temporal and spatial comparison.In the Early Miocene, forest vegetation (mainly needle- and broad-leaved mixed forest) flourished in most areas of Xinjiang due to the warm and humid climatic conditions, with the exception of steppe vegetation growing in partial area.During the Late Miocene, the climate became warm and dry.Steppe vegetation (mainly Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae) occurred in Dushanzi of Junggar region, Lop Nur area and Kuche Basin of Tarim region.Desert vegetation emerged in Jingouhe of Junggar region.Forest or forest-steppe vegetation was distributed in the other regions.However, the aridification of climate was speeded up in the Pliocene, steppe and desert-steppe occurred in Junggar region, Tarim region and Kunlun region.The gobal cooling and the acceleration of uplift of Tibetan Plateau, Kunlun Mountains and Tianshan Mountains in the Late Cenozoic might be two crucial forcing factors on the development of Neogene vegetation, climate and environment pattern in Xinjiang and the intensified aridity in Central Asia.In addition, other secondary factors should be considered, including the topography, rainfall shadow, windward and leeward of the study area and the retreat of Paratethys.Owing to the uncertainty of age control of some palynological studies, vegetation succession and environment change were inferred based on pollen assemblages and stratigraphical comparison.In the future, more studies on chronostratigraphy and quantitative reconstruction of Neogene climate in Xinjiang are necessary.