Objectives: The Xingfengshan lode gold deposit is a representative of gold deposits occurred in the Xiangzhong Basin, central Hunan. The deposit, located in the external contact zone of Baimashan granitic pluton, is hosted by Neoproterozoic slate and phyllite rocks. This study devotes to ascertain the characteristics of ore- forming fluids and further understand the ore genesis of the Xingfengshan gold deposit.Methods: Based on field investigation and indoor microscopic study, the petrographic observation, microthermometric measurements and laser Raman spectroscopy on the fluid inclusions hosted in different stage quartz from the Xingfengshan deposit, were systematically carried out in this study.Results: The fluid inclusions hosted in sheeted quartz vein of the ore- forming stage mainly include liquid- rich aqueous inclusions, and a few of vapour- rich aqueous inclusions and less CO2- rich inclusions, its homogenization temperatures vary between 220℃ and 420℃, and its salinities change from 0.35% to 11.94% NaCleq; while the homogenization temperatures and salinities for the fluid inclusions in the quartz veins of post- ore- forming stage are obviously less than those of fluid inclusions in auriferous quartz. The ore- forming fluid in this study belongs to the meso- and hyper- thermal, CO2- poor and reduced H2O—NaCl (±KCl)- CO2—CH4—N2 system, the change of fO2 and pH caused by decompression boiling is the key factor to gold precipitation.Conclusions: The geological characteristics of the Xingfengshan deposit and its ore- forming fluid signatures with high- temperatures and the low- pressure are obviously different from the orogenic gold deposits. Combined with the type of wall rock alterations and its mineral assemblages, it can be concluded that the Xingfengshan gold deposit belongs to a typical one of the intrusion- related gold systems (IRGS).