To study the effects of dietary crude protein (CP) levels on laying performance and egg quality of Beijing YouJi during different laying periods in free range system. Six hundred 19-week-old Beijing YouJi with no significant body weight difference were chosen and randomly allocated to 6 groups (groups 1 to 6), 100 birds per group, fed with corn-soybean meal based diet, and raised in specially established “free range” houses. Groups 1, 2 and 3 were for the trial during early period of laying (19 to 21 weeks), groups 4, 5 and 6 were for the trial during laying period (22 to 43 weeks), and then groups 1, 2 and 3 were again for the trial during late period of laying (44 to 55 weeks), respectively. Groups 1 and 4 were the control groups for each trial. A single factorial arrangement was used. Three crude protein levels were 16.0%, 15.5% and 15.0% in the trial, respectively. Average feed intake, laying rate, feed-egg ratio, mortality rate, and egg quality indices were measured during the trial. The results showed as follows: under free range system, the laying performance, including laying rate, feed intake, feed-egg ratio, and mortality rate was not significantly affected by dietary CP levels at different laying periods (P>0.05), but the egg quality indices were significantly affected (P<0.05). At 30 weeks old, average egg weight, yolk color and albumin weight were significantly affected by dietary CP levels (P<0.05), and moisture and crude protein contents of yolk were also significantly affected (P<0.05), e.g. average egg weight and albumin weight of 16.0% CP group were significantly higher than those of 15.5% and 15.0% CP groups (P<0.05), moisture content of yolk of 16.0% CP group was significantly higher than that of 15.5% but lower than that of 15.0% CP group (P<0.05), crude protein content of 16.0% and 15.5% CP groups was significantly lower than that of 15.0% CP group (P<0.05), but other indices had no significant changes (P>0.05). At 43 weeks old, egg grade (P<0.05), shell weight (P<0.05) and yolk weight (P=0.053) were significantly affected by dietary CP levels, e.g. egg grade of 15.5% CP group was significantly higher than that of 16.0% and 15.0% CP groups (P<0.05), egg shell weight of 15.5% and 15.0% CP groups was significantly higher than that of 16.0% CP group, but other indices had no significant changes (P>0.05). At 55 weeks old, the effects of different dietary CP levels on egg quality were indicated as shape index and albumin weight, e.g. shape index of 16.0% CP group was significantly lower than that of 15.5% and 15.0% CP groups (P<0.05), and albumin weight of 16.0% CP group was significantly higher than that of 15.5% and 15.0% CP groups (P<0.05). In summary, under this “free range” system, laying performance of Beijing YouJi is not significantly affected by dietary CP levels during different laying periods, but the egg quality is significantly affected, and different indices are affected during different periods, which indicates that the egg weight, yolk color and albumin weight are affected at 30 weeks old, egg grade, egg shell weight and yolk weight are affected at 43 weeks old, albumin weight and shape index are affected at 55 weeks old. It is suggested that appropriate CP levels for Beijing YouJi during early period of laying, laying period, and late period of laying are 15.5%, 15.5% and 16.0%, respectively.[Chinese Journal of Animal Nutrition,2011,23(2):307-315]