Abstract: Vigor in 50 Chinese fir seed lots has been tested by seedling vigor classification on vertical plates. Rating criteria of seedling vigor were developed, with which seedlings produced on vertical plates were classified into five classes, each representing a stage of germination progress. Equations were given for predicting field establishment and plant percent in different agroclimatic conditions and for detecting genetic vigor of seed among different families with seedling vigor classes in a 20-day germination period.