BACKGROUND Prevalence of The transmitted HIV drug resistance (THDR) has been reported in many countries. In China, the low level THDR was found in only a few provinces. To know the transmitted HIV drug resistance in east of China, we investigated THDR during 2009-2011 in Jiangsu province of China. METHODS Between January and August of 2009, 2010, and 2011, we consecutively collected 50, 54, 53 blood specimens respectively from qualified individuals at surveillance sentinel sites in Jiangsu province according to protocol of HIV Drug Resistance Threshold Survey (HIVDR-TS) recommended by WHO. The region of pol gene including protease and partial retro-transcriptase was amplified, sequenced and edited. Then the sequences were submitted to HIV drug resistance database to analysis transmitted HIV drug resistance mutations using Calibrated Population Resistance tool. The reference sequences of different HIV-1 subtypes were downloaded from HIV database and Genebank. The phylogenetic trees were inferred using the neighbor-joining method. RESULTS Our results show that THDR has been at low level from 2009 to 2011, only K101E and V179D mutation was detected which did not belong to the major HIV-1 drug resistance mutations. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CRF01_AE is the predominant subtype, and followed by CRF07_BC and B subtype. Subtype B consists of the two distinct clusters. CONCLUSIONS The low level of THDR suggests that anti-retroviral treatment was implemented more effectively and THDR surveillance should be conducted two years later in Jiangsu province of China. CRF01_AE has become the predominant subtype and dual infection of HIV may be common in Jiangsu province.