The spatio-temporal characteristics of flood and drought in Guangxi were analyzed using standardized precipitation index

Mann-Kendall test and REOF based on the observed monthly precipitation data of 74 meteorological stations from 1961 to 2008. The results indicate that: (1) flood and drought disasters have stage characteristics

i-e. Droughts were frequent in 1960s

mid 1980s to early 1990s and the 21-st -century

while floods were severe and frequent during 1970s to early 1980s and in the late 1990s; (2) Guangxi can be divided into four regions

northeast Guangxi

northwest Guangxi

southeast Guangxi and southwest Guangxi

which have similar trends of extreme flood and drought disasters to the whole region. Sometimes there are some differences between severe drought and flood in different areas. The frequency of severe drought occurred in northeast and southeast Guangxi is higher than other regions. However

the frequency of severe flood occurred in southwest Guangxi is high.