In summary, the current study obtained mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) could well supplement the southern China Han mtDNA database. Significantly, judging from the matrilineal makeup, the Dongguan Guangdong (DG) Han sample shows the typical features of southern Han Chinese, and whose genetic relativeness to Guangzhou (GZ) and Hong Kong (HK) Hans might be attributable to their geographic proximity. Previous investigations on Chinese mtDNA variation revealed that the matrilineal gene pool of southern Han Chinese is rather complex, with much higher genetic diversity and more basal/ancient lineages than the northern Hans. The extreme case is Guangdong Han populations, among which pronounce matrilineal differentiation has been observed, indicative of complex demography of the region. To get more insights into the maternal makeup of southern Han Chinese, mtDNA variation of a total of 106 individuals sampled from Dongguan, Guangdong Province, China was analyzed. Table, figure, references