Terrain characters are considerable stable components, forming the base of wildlife habitat. To understand terrain preference of ungulates will largely assist management and conservation. Takin (Budorcas taxicolor tibetana) is a large ungulate that inhabit mountains with a rough terrain surface and low elevationarea during spring in Tangjiahe nature reserve. We primarily explored the terrain preference of takin during spring using data from 4 GPS-collared adult takin in period of March to April in 2008 and based on seven topographic factors (i.e. slope, aspect, slope position, elevation, topography ruggedness, distance to cliff, and distance to ridge). We found three groups of terrain factors (topography ruggedness, anti-predation and slope position) influenced takin terrain selection using factor analysis (Table 1). By testing the terrain difference between the sites used and randomly generated points within takin home range during spring, we found takin preferred to the habitat with specified terrain attributes. Takin were found to prefer the habitat with gentle slope, lower elevation, lower terrain ruggedness apart from ridge and cliff. We also found takin to utilize habitat with flat and mid-slope position on sunny slope or shady slope (Fig. 2). Although female were significant different from male on the 7 terrain characteristics , showing a preference to more complex terrain characters, female shown no preference to cliff or slope position selection by comparing with available habitat within its home range. In this study, the significant divergence between sexes on terrain preference may be an indicator of habitat segregation existing within takin population. These results should be incorporated into takin population and habitat management although the sample size was limited due to human disturbance occurred within low elevation area during the study period.