Alternate freezing and thawing in springs, commonly occurring in mid- and high latitudes, is an important event in carbon cycles of terrestrial ecosystems, and also a temporal transition period in seasonal dynamics of soil respiration (RS). However, few field studies on RS and involved mechanistic processes during this period exist. We developed a latitudinal transect, comprising of 4 sites across the distribution range of boreal Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) in northeastern China in the fall of 2004. The sites were matched as well as possible to have the same stand characteristics (8-year-old plantations) and site conditions. Four 10×10 m2 larch forest plots (trees + understory + ground cover + soil A and B horizons) at each site were transplanted to Mao’ershan Forest Ecosystem Research Station-the southern boundary of the Dahurian larch distribution range (127°30′ E, 45°20′ N). The experiment was a completely randomized design including 4 treatments (sites) by 4 replicate plots. We used root exclusion method and an infrared gas exchange analyzer to measure RS and heterotrophic respiration (RH) for the transplanted larch forest ecosystems during the soil freezing and thawing period (between March and May 2006). The temperature dependency of RS was related to soil thawing stages. The diurnal patterns of RS and RH did not differ significantly among the treatments, but did in various thawing periods. The diurnal patterns of RS and RH were independent of soil temperature before the soil was completely thawed when they were strongly temperature-dependent. Pooling all data across the whole soil thawing process, we found that the RS and RH were significantly affected by soil temperature and water content across the 4 treatments (R2 = 0.569-0.743, P < 0.001). The soil surface CO2 flux was predominantly composed of RH up till the end of April when the rhizospheric respiration (RR) occurred. The treatment, thawing period, and their interaction significantly affected both RS and RH. The mean values of RS and RH, and their differences increased with the soil thawing proceeding. During the soil thawing process, the RS and RH varied from 0.50-3.30 μmolCO2 m-2s-1 and 0.52-3.04 μmolCO2 m-2s-1, respectively. Under the same climate conditions, the RS and its sensitivity to soil temperature tended to increase with the latitude. Our results suggest a stronger response of vernal soil respiration for more northern Larix gmelinii forests under climate warming scenarios.