Abstract: In order to investigate the effects of different control modes for two-section cylinder dryer and the resulted quality of demi-slim cigarettes, two varying temperature drying modes (a high-to-low and low-to-high cylinder wall temperature, in the direction of tobacco flowing) and a constant wall temperature mode were evaluated on the physicochemical properties of cut leaf strips and the sensory quality of the cigarettes. The results showed that: 1) The two varying temperature drying modes promoted longer strand proportion, integral strand proportion and the filling power of cut strips, and the constant temperature drying mode was beneficial to the uniformity of cut strip structure. 2) The generation and accumulation of volatile aroma components in the dried cut strips were influenced by the drying modes slightly. The dual-temperature drying mode at 125 ℃/145 ℃ and the constant temperature drying mode at 135 ℃ resulted in a lower processing intensity and more conducive to promote the chemical constituent harmony and the accumulation of aroma components in the finished cut strips. 3) Both the dual-temperature drying mode at 125 ℃/145 ℃ and the constant temperature drying mode at 135 ℃ with a lower processing intensity were helpful to demonstrate the "fresh-sweetness scent" sensory quality of the cigarettes, with improving physicochemical properties of dried cut strips and the overall sensory quality of the cigarettes. The constant temperature drying mode at 135 ℃ was more suitable for the processing and production of demi-slim cigarettes of "Yunyan" brand.