AbstractThis paper reported 106 species of butterflies blonging to 52 genera , seven families collected in south slope of Altai Mountains in northwest Xinjiang , China. Of which , the family Papilionidae has 1 species/ 1 genus , Parnassiidae 6/ 1 , Pieridae 22/ 8 genera , Satyidae 23/ 16 , Nymphalidae 32/ 16 , Lycaenidae 15/ 12 and Hesperiidae 10/ 7. According to their distribution characteristics , four vertical zones were divided : (1) half2desert in low relief terrain ; (2) mountain bush2herb zone ; (3) mountain prairie2timber zone ; (4) subalpine steppe2 meadow steppe2alpine vegetation with cushion plants.