Abstract: Evergreen plants in subtropical region were suffered from the combination of low temperatures and high solar irradiances in winter. Low temperature inhibited photosynthetic CO2 assimilation,but light energy continued to be absorbed by green leaves. Therefore,there was a potential risk of photoinhibition to evergreens in overwintering. Different photoprotective strategies were observed in overwintering evergreens. The differences of the chorophyll fluorescence and intrinsic characteristics of light-harvesting pigment molecules of sun-and shading-leaves of Photinia × fraseri（growth type in winter）and Osmanthus fragrans（growth stagnant type in winter）were compared with during overwintering,to explore the choice of photoprotective strategies of overwintering evergreens in the subtropical region. Both P. × fraseri and O. fragrans in the subtropical region adapted to the low temperature with high light condition of winter. However,there were different photoprotective strategies in two evergreens. The absorption of light energy decreased in P. × fraseri,the actual absorption capacity of light-harvesting pigment molecules reduced,and high photochemical capacity and electron transport rate maintained,which would protect photosynthetic apparatus against damage due to low temperature with high light in winter. Meanwhile,high chlorophyll content and photochemical efficiency maintained in P. × fraseri,which would be conducive to the rapid conversion of energy metabolism pathway from photoprotection to carbon assimilation when temperature rises during overwintering. Different from photoprotective strategy of P. × fraseri,O. fragrans mainly adopted relatively slow reversal photoprotective strategies such as reducing chlorophyll content and enhancing energy dissipation. That could be the main reason that P. × fraseri still maintained growth,while O. fragrans was stagnant in the subtropical region in winter.