Abstract: To effectively recognize the growing area and classified usage of flue-cured tobacco leaves, the appearance of flue-cured tobacco leaves were classified according to growing areas. Flue-cured tobacco leaves (C2F) were sampled from 43 growing areas (Nanping in Fujian, Liangshan in Sichuan, Chenzhou in Hunan, Xuchang in Henan, Zunyi in Guizhou, Qujing in Yunnan, etc.). Fifteen appearance characters (background color, thickness, waxiness, flexibility, leaf color difference between front and back, leaf body difference between tip and base, luster, leaf surface tissue, etc.) of the samples were analyzed. Seven principal components were extracted via principal component analysis, and the samples from the 43 areas were clustered based on the comprehensive scores. The results showed that:1) The accumulated contribution rate of the seven principal components reached 83.476%. Ten indexes (leaf surface tissue, flexibility, color intensity, oil, thickness, background color, leaf body difference between tip and base, maturity, color and leaf color difference between front and back) were determined as the evaluation indexes of appearance characteristics of flue-cured tobacco leaves. 2) Taking the square Euclidean distance of 10 as a standard, all of the samples could be classified into 8 categories:Category Ⅰ (samples from Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Enshi and Yichang in Hubei), Category Ⅱ (samples from Zhumadian and Nanyang in Henan, Ankang in Shaanxi), Category Ⅲ (samples from Fujian, Xiangxi in Hunan), Category Ⅳ (samples from Qianjiang in Chongqing), Category Ⅴ (samples from Xuchang and Pingdingshan in Henan), Category Ⅵ (samples from Chenzhou and Yongzhou in Hunan, Jiangxi), Category Ⅶ (samples from Heilongjiang, Liaoning, Jilin, Shangluo in Shaanxi, Shandong), Category Ⅷ (samples from Luohe in Henan, Xuancheng in Anhui).