Seasonal variation of foliar δ¹³C values as well as proline, silicon, MDA and relative water content in Sabina przewalskii Kom.and S. chinensis (Lin.) Ant. were measured. The results show that foliar δ¹³C values were significantly different at different seasons: lower in winter but higher in summer. δ¹³C values were positively correlated with air temperature and soil temperature.This demonstrates that foliar δ¹³C of Sabina is a successful empirical indictor of temperature. Furthermore, foliar δ¹³C values were positively related to proline and silicon content, and negatively related to relative water content and MDA content.Compared with S. chinensis, S. przewalskii has higher δ¹³C values, proline and silicon content as well as lower MDA and relative water content. All these results provided strong evidence that it is feasible for δ¹³C to be regarded as another index to evaluate freezing tolerance of Sabina.