Abstract: The genetic diversity of twenty-seven indigenous chicken breeds or strains in east China was detected with thirty microsatellite markers with high polymorphisms. The genetic parameters of mean polymorphic information content (PIC), mean heterozygosity (H), and Nei’s standard genetic distances (Ds) were calculated. The clustering dendrogram was obtained eventually based on Ds genetic distances of thirty microsatellite and UPGMA method. The results were as follows: the mean heterozygosity of Hetian chicken was the highest (0.687 0), and that of Langshan chicken was the lowest (0.617 0), and that in other breeds or strains was also more than 0.6, which reflected their rich diversity. The Ds genetic distances suggested the longer differentiation. UPGMA tree was obtained through analysis of Ds genetic distance, twentyseven indigenous chicken breed were clustered into ten groups based on the dendrogram. In the tree, Velutinate silky, Jining bairi, Hetian, Anyi wahui, Xianju, Jiangshan silky, Liyang, Jinhu silky, Lingkun, Yugan silky, Kangle, Xiaoshan, Langya, Huaibei ma and Huainan sanhuang were first grouped together; Baier and Pudong chicken had their own branch respectively; Chongren ma and Silky were fourth grouped; Langshan and Shouguang were fifth grouped; Luyuan, Dongxiang green eggshell and Wenshang barred chicken had their own branch respectively; Ningdu sanhuang and Luxi game chicken were ninth grouped; the last group was only Zhangzhou game chicken. According to those breeds or strains having their own characteristics and rich diversity based on the analysis of their genetic diversity, we should rationally explore their superiorities.