53 water samples were collected from 28 stations in typical regions where redtide frequently occurred in the Changjiang River estuary during Spring, 2002. In total, 80 diatom species and varieties belonging to 31 genera were identified, among which, genera with high species biodiversity included Coscinodiscus which contained 17 species and Pleurosigma which contained 8 species and varieties. Quantitative analysis of diatom cell density showed that Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissma (3.48 x 10(3) cells.L-1, 28.54%), Melosira sulcata (1.43 x 10(3) cells.L-1, 16.98%) and Pseudo-nitzschia pungens (0.71 x 10(3) cells.L-1, 9.85%) were dominant species, which occurred at almost all stations. Higher cell density of Pseudo-nitzschia delicatissma and Pseudo-nitzschia pungens occurred at stations along 123 degrees E, while that of Melosira sulcata occurred at stations around Changjiang River at 31-32 degrees N. The total diatom cell density ranged from 0.43 x 10(3)-23.3 x 10(3) cells.L-1, with average of 4.61 x 10(3) cells.L-1. At station DD15 located at 123 degrees E and 30.5 degrees N, the highest diatom cell density was found, which was 1.85 x 10(4) cells.L-1 at surface water layer, and 2.33 x 10(4) cells.L-1 at middle water layer (30 m) respectively. Horizontally, the diatom cell density showed scattered distribution, while vertically, it was commonly higher at surface water layer than that at middle water layer.