Abstract: To further understand the pattern of lightning activities in southeast Hubei, based on the data obtained from lightning location system (ADTD) in Xianning between 2007 and 2017, the characteristics of the temporal and spatial variations of the number, density, and intensity of return strokes of cloud-to-ground lightning in six counties and districts in Xianning were analyzed with mathematical statistics and other methods. The results indicated noticeable seasonal variations in lightning activities in Xianning, spring and summer from March to September were the highest period of lightning with two peaks, the main peak and the secondary one being August and July respectively. And 13:00-18:00 BT saw the most active lightning activities in a day. With respect to the spatial distribution of lightning activities, the northern area showed higher density of return stokes compared with the south; Tongshan county in the south, which features mountainous terrain, was found with the highest number of total return strokes, reaching an annual average of 8873 times.