Abstract: To clarify the appearance characteristics and their relationships with internal quality of flue-cured tobacco of fresh-sweetness flavor type, the middle leaves of C2F grade were collected from 11 planting areas (Liangshan and Panzhihua in Sichuan and Qujing, Dali, Wenshan, Pu'er, Honghe, Lincang, Zhaotong, Lijiang and Chuxiong in Yunnan) in southwest plateau ecological area. The appearance quality characteristics and their relationship with routine chemical components and sensory quality were analyzed by correlation, gradual regression and path analyses. The results showed that: 1) The appearance quality characteristics of tobacco leaves were white background color, moderate thickness, weak wax texture, relatively soft to soft leaf, slight leaf color difference between front and back, minor (several samples were moderate) leaf body difference between tip and base, bright luster, relatively smooth to smooth leaf surface tissue, orange shade of color; orange color, mature tobacco leaves, loose and partial relatively loose leaf structure, moderate (several samples were slightly thick) body, oily, moderate to strong color intensity. Each index was relatively stable and consistent. 2) The appearance characteristics of tobacco leaves did not closely correlated to routine chemical components, while color shade extremely significantly negatively correlated to potassium content, thickness significantly positively correlated to nicotine content, and color extremely significantly negatively correlated to nitrogen/nicotine ratio and sugar/nicotine ratio. 3) The appearance characteristics closely correlated to sensory quality generally. Among them, the relationships of leaf color difference between front and back, wax texture with fresh-sweetness scent, those of leaf color difference between front and back with flavor type, elegancy, smoothness and aftertaste, those of thickness with concentration and woody scent were extremely significantly positive. Therefore, thickness, wax texture, leaf color difference between front and back, and color shade were the key appearance quality characteristic indexes affecting the style and quality of tobacco leaves of fresh-sweetness flavor type.