The mountain area of Hotan Prefecture is situated in the middle section of the Kunlun Mountains

which are generally about 6000 metres above sea level.Located in a warm temperature zone and the hinterland of Eurasia

the Prefecture is dominated by a dry continental climate. In the present study

the authors have identified more than 300 specimens of bryophytes

all of which were collected by the first two authors from the Mountain area during the past three investigations from 1991 to 1996.According to this preliminary research

42 species including one variety and one form of Musci belonging to 6 families and 15 genera are reported from the Kunlun mountain area

Hotan

Xinjiang.Among them

one genus

Mielichhoferia Nees et Hornsch.and 20 species are new records in Xinjiang.The superior families are Bryaceae

Pottiaceae and Amblystegiaceae in the species number.Based on the research above

the communities of bryophytes on the area are also discussed in brief.In addition

a list of mosses on the area is presented in this paper.