Abstract: Combined with the work of several generations of scientists from China who carried out scientific investigation in the South China Sea Islands in the past century, natural environment of the South China Sea Islands is comprehensively analyzed on the basis of regional geologic landforms, climate, marine hydrology, marine organism, terrestrial biota, soil, natural complex and natural regionalization. Natural resources of the South China Sea Islands are explained in detail, such as territorial resources, fishery resources, tourism resources, oil and gas resources, natural gases hydrates resources, terrestrial organism and water resources in lime-sand islets, port and navigational channel resources, and ocean-atmospheric energy resources. According to the natural endowment and importance of strategic position, suggestions about the scientific development of the South China Sea Islands are proposed. It is considered that the development of the South China Sea Islands should include tourism, fishery and aquaculture in lagoon of atoll, while more attention should be paid to the exploitation of ocean oil，gas and natural gases hydrates resources.

Key words: the South China Sea Islands, natural environment, resource, development