Abstract: This study elucidates the intricate dynamics of species composition, structure, and stock volume within subtropical degraded Pinus massoniana forests undergoing natural restoration so as to provide a scientific foundation for the sustainable management and restoration of natural forests.In November 1989, the middle-aged P. massoniana forest with similarities in site condition and growth status was chosen in the Tiantong Forest Farm in Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, from which two 800 m² sample plots was established. Since that time, the structural dynamics of these communities has been monitored and compared for 35 years. The findings revealed that the degree of population dominance for P. massoniana declined to 1.47% from once 77.34%, while that for the Schima superba surged from 14.68% to 82.08%, asserting its dominance as the primary tree species. Concurrently, the absolute value of cross-sectional area of the breast height for P. massoniana plummeted from 25.7 m²·hm⁻² to 0.57 m²·hm⁻², in stark contrast to that of the S. superba, which escalated from 4.88 m²·hm⁻² to 31.84 m²·hm⁻². The tree layer exhibited a biphasic density trend, with an initial decline followed by an increase, alongside a gradual increase in average breast diameter and a volume initially declined and then rose. With the restoration of community, the tree diameter class underwent an inverse “J”-shaped structural transformation, with a notable increase of trees whose height≥12 m. The emergence of young trees, including Castanopsis fargesii, Castanopsis carlesii, Coptis chinensis, and Cyclobalanopsis acutissima, signaled the transition from a coniferous to an evergreen broad-leaved forest structure, bringing out the more integrity and complexity of community structure.This study indicates that the forests where P. massoniana underwent degradation can naturally recover into evergreen broad-leaved ones with higher tree species diversity and standing stock in subtropical area.