To investigate the distribution of HLA-E alleles and linkage between HLA-E and HLA-A or -B loci in Chinese Han in Guangdong area, HLA-E alleles were detected by using PCR-SSP in 150 unrelated healthy individuals from Guangzhou area; HLA-A, -B antigens typing in 106 individuals was carried out with NIH standard microlymphocytoxic method. Analysis of linkage was performed between HLA-E and HLA-A, -B. The results showed that three alleles of HLA-E could be detected in this population. They are E * 0101, E * 01031, E * 01032, with the frequency of 45.33%, 32.33%, 22.33% respectively. No E * 0102 and E * 0104 could be detected in all of these individuals. The analysis of linkage on two loci between HLA-E and HLA-A or -B showed that no significant difference could be found between expected frequencies and observed frequencies except B15/E * 01032 and A2/E * 01032. In conclusion, the high conservative polymorphism of HLA-E suggests that it's biological characteristic is different from that of classical HLA class Ia molecules.