In the present study, the associations between trees and lianas were investigated along four ridge transects in primary forest and post-harvest forest in tropical evergreen mountain rain forest in Bawangling Nature Reserve, Hainan Island. The results showed that, in primary forest, Melastomataceae had a higher proportion of trees with lianas than the other five dominant families while Symplocaceae had a lower proportion. However, the percentage of trees with lianas showed no significant overall difference among six dominant families (P = 0.09). In post-harvest forest, Melastomataceae had a higher proportion of trees with lianas as well, but Rubiaceae had the lowest proportion. The percentage of trees with lianas showed a significant overall difference among six dominant families (P < 0.01). At the species level, in primary forest, Memecylon ligustrifolium and Syzygium araiocladum both had a significantly higher proportion of trees with lianas, while Prismatomeris tetrandra and Symplocos crassifolia both had a lower proportion. M. ligustrifolium, S. araiocladum and Symplocos laurina were infected by lianas more than other host tree species, however, the number of lianas per tree were not significantly different from the average level of plots. In post-harvest forest, M. ligustrifolium, had a higher proportion of trees with lianas and Psychotria rubra had a lower proportion. M. ligustrifolium, S. araiocladum and Acronychia pedunculata were infected by lianas more than other host tree species, but P. rubra was rarely infected by lianas. In primary forest, M. ligustrifolium was the dominant host tree species, and four liana species selected them as their main host. Hypserpa nitida and Parabarium micranthum had obvious selectivity to the host tree species in five main liana species. In post-harvest forest, M. ligustrifolium and S. araiocladum were the dominant host tree species, and two liana species selected M. ligustrifolium as their main host, while two liana species selected S. araiocladum as their main host trees. H. nitida, P. micranthum, Smilax amaurophlebia and Smilax china had obvious selectivity to the host tree species in seven main liana species. In two forest types, P. micranthum and H. nitida infected the same host tree species. M. ligustrifolium was infected more by P. micranthum and S. araiocladum more by H. nitida. This study showed that the percentage of trees with lianas varied among families and species. Lianas affect host trees that belong to different families and different species in different ways. In conclusion, trees could suffer from asymmetric influences from the interference of lianas, which would affect forest structure and dynamics during forest succession.