Abstract. – The species composition, spatial distribution and temporal distribution of rotifer communities in the Yongjiang River, China, were investigated at one month intervals from March 2011 to February 2012. Samples were taken at 13 sections in the river. Seventy-two rotifer species were identified during the study period. The dominant species pertained to the genera Brachionus and Keratella. The peak of rotifer community abundance appeared in spring at the upstream localities and in summer at midstream and downstream. The diversity parameters of rotifer community varied seasonally. The similarity analysis showed that the compositions of the rotifer species had significant differences among 13 sections. The relationships between the rotifer communities and the environmental factors were also analyzed. Principal Component Analysis revealed that any single environmental factor did not impact the rotifer community significantly, but combinations of environmental factors showed significant correlations with the rotifer community. Analysis using the Shannon-Wiener diversity index of rotifers at different sections of the river displayed that, Section 1 and 2 at upstream was less polluted while the other sections were more severely polluted