Based on the theory of cooling age and distribution of K-Ar apparent ages ofmetamorphic rocks from the Dabie orogen,it is indicated that these apparent agesrepresent neither the time when the rocks were formed, nor simple thermal dis-turbance, but the time since the temperature of the rock fell to below the closuretemperature of dated minerals because of erosion and/or uplifting, i. e. the historyof tectonic uplifting of the block. Data available indicate that the uplifting of theDabie orogen started in the Indosinian period, but the central part of the orogen,i. e. the Luotian-Yinshan area, shows young (Yanshanian) apparent ages due tofast uplifting and/or high geothermal gradient.