[Aim] To comprehend the process of the alien plants invasion in Anhui and certify the distribution, which has importance for developing the corresponding management strategies for their control and remediation.[Method] To analyze the origin, the pathways introduced, the invaded time, the biotopes, the distributions and species of alien invasive plants in Anhui Province using published literature and field investigations.[Result] 1. A total of 158 alien invasive plant species from 40 families and 102 genera were recorded, among which 25 genera and 36 species were from the Compositae family, accounting 22.8% of all species. 2. The invasive plants mainly originated in North America (98 species, 57.6%). The major method of introduction was intentional introduction by people (95 species, accounting for 60.1%); 38.7% were introduced unintentionally. Most invasive plants to Anhui were recently introduced (accounting for 69.9%). 3. Two third (75.5%) of invasive plants were distributed in 5 ecosystems, including roadsides and wasteland, forests and bushes, inland waters and wetlands, grasslands and urban greenbelts, and farmed and arable lands. 4. Among the 16 prefecture-level cities in Anhui Province, the highest number of species existed in Wuhu (78.5%), followed by Huangshan (77.8%), and Hefei (76.6%), the lowest in Bozhou (62.7%).[Conclusion] The number of invasive species in Anhui decreased gradually from southeast to northwest. In general, Anhui possesses several environments favourable for alien plants to invade. Thus, we should strengthen the supervision and control the invasion promptly.