Monosex cultivation is significant in the breeding of the Chinese spiny frog Quasipaa spinosa. In order to understand the gonadal differentiation of Q. spinosa, the effects of temperature on its gonad differentiation. This paper describes the formation of the primordial gonad and gonadal differentiation of Q. spinosa as determined using histological methods. Some particulars of Q. spinosa gonad differentiation:two types of cells, primordial germ cells (PGCs) and somatic cells, could be distinguished in the germinal ridges; there is a primary cavity which has squamous epithelium on the surface in every primordial gonad, regardless of whether it will become an ovary or a testis, and when the squamous epithelium on the surface disappears gradually, a secondary cavity forms. When PGCs around the cavity begin to mature, primordial gonads begin to differentiate into ovaries; when somatic cells go into the cavity, the cavity disappears gradually, and primordial gonads begin to differentiate into testes. Day 17 to day 80 (Gosner stages 25-26) is a sensitive period for gonadal differentiation in Q. spinosa. Tadpoles were divided into 4 groups from day 1 (Gosner stage 24) on. Every group was cultured under one of four temperatures:(16±1)℃, (23±1)℃, (27±1)℃, and (31±1)℃. The control group was maintained at (23±1)℃. The sex ratio in the control group was 26:24 female:male (the male rate was approximately 50%). In the (16±1)℃ group, the female to male ratio was 33:17, so the male rate only was 34% (P < 0.05). The rate of male gonadal differentiation was progressively higher from (27±1)℃ to (31±1)℃. In the (31±1)℃ group, the male rate was 70% (P < 0.05). These results show that sex determination in Q. spinosa is temperature-sensitive. At higher temperatures, some individuals displayed hermaphroditic characteristics. High water temperatures will induce masculinization.