Subject of research. The upper Permian reefs of the Yangtze block of southern China are considered. Among them there are two species which differ in location in the basin and the nature of the internal structure.

Methods and results. On the basis of geological and lithological methods of research it is shown that the main rift builders were a variety of sponges, whith a lesser extent bryozoans and wide development of non-carcass organisms. Along with relatively simple buildings (biostromes), the reefs in the strict sense of this term are also established. The beginning of reef formation is fixed by the accumulation of detritus of echinoderms with micro-grain cemented material. Reef formation ended until the end of Permian, before bulk biota extinction on the border of Permian and Triassic although potentially reef-building organisms still existed.

Conclusion. The events that led to the great mass extinction were preceded by certain changes, which primarily destroyed the system of reef biocenosis, which led to the cessation of the formation of reefs with the continued existence of individual groups of organisms.