Combined study of Laser Raman, cathodoluminescence image and ion probe U-Pb dating reveals that zircons separated from gneissic rocks in the Sulu terrane recorded complicated geochronological traces. Some zircons from paragneiss retain inherited cores with inherited ages of 345~743 Ma, indicating the complexity of the detrital zircons in protoliths. Coesite-bearing domains of zircons recorded 220 ~ 234 Ma for UHP metamorphic conditions, and quartz-bearing rims of zircons recorded 202 ~ 219 Ma for the late-stage amphibolite facies overprint. The cores of zircons from orthogneiss recorded 574-680 Ma for inherited zircons, implying partial loss of Pb from zircon in the protolith, so the protolith age should be older than 680 Ma. Coesite-bearing domains of zircons recorded 224~242 Ma for UHP metamorphic conditions, and free-mineral inclusion rims of zircons recorded 209--219 Ma for the late-stage amphibolite facies. These data indicate that UHP metamorphism in the Sulu terrane occurred in the Indosinian time. The exhumation rate of the Sulu terrane is approximately 5. 6 km/Ma calculated based on the SHRIMP data and relative P-T conditions. The large exhumation rate of the massif is in the same range as other UHP metamorphic terranes in the world, and suggests that slab decoupling may be a driving force for the exhumation of UHP metamorphic rocks from mantle depths.