In order to study tobacco growth and development, yield and quality at different altitudes, and the susceptibilities of different tobacco varieties to altitude, 8 flue-cured varieties planted at 2 test sites at the altitudes of 1690m and 1960m in Kunming tobacco growing areas were compared. The results showed that: 1) at lower altitude, the seedling stage shortened obviously, growth and development period tended to be shorter, the time of budding delayed, and the duration from budding to center flower blossoming shortened, the plant height, leaf yield, output value increased significantly and leaf number increased in some sort; the appearance quality of leaf improved slightly, while the proportion of high and middle grade leaves reduced a little; the contents of nicotine, total nitrogen and protein in leaves decreased, however, the total sugar content, ratio of sugar to nicotine and Shimuke value increased; 2) all tested cultivars were susceptible to altitude though at different degrees.