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The central Nanling region in South China experienced multistage granite intrusive events and corresponding metallogenic processes during the Early Yanshanian period (190-140 Ma). In this study, a wide variety of published data on age determination, petrological characteristics, major and trace elements compositions, whole rock Sr-Nd contents and zircon Hf isotopic composition of the representative granite composites were systematically collected to estimate their cooling-uplift rates, granite evolution processes and mineral deposit formation. These granites have been classified into two groups based on their age and geochemical variations: Group 1 (180-165 Ma) and Group 2 (165-150 Ma). Major and trace element geochemistry suggests that Group 2 experienced more intense magmatic evolution and differentiation than Group 1. In addition, Group 1 granitoids are classified as A1-type alkaline rocks with faster cooling and uplift rates, whereas Group 2 granites are considered as A2-type aluminous rocks with slower cooling and ascent rates. Furthermore, the Group 1 granitoids have younger Nd and Hf two-stage model ages but higher Nd(t) and Hf(t) values, indicating influence from crust-mantle interaction. In contrast, the Group 2 granites show different values, suggesting stronger upper crustal contamination or assimilation. The slowly cooled and ascended Group 2 granites experienced much heavier crustal contamination (or assimilation) and crystal fractionation, contributing to the large W-Sn mineralisation in the central Nanling region. The Early Mesoproterozoic (1.6-1.4 Ga) crustal basement of the Cathaysia Block in South China is the ore source bed for the world-famous Nanling W-Sn polymetallic mineralisation.CITATION:Li, H, 2015. Where is the source of the world-famous Nanling W-Sn polymetallic mineralisation?, in Proceedings PACRIM 2015 Congress, pp 619-622 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).