This study was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary safflower oil on growth performance, lipid metabolism indices and fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi of fattening pigs. A total of 60 Duroc×Landrace×Yorkshire crossbred pigs with an average body weight of (60.00±6.00) kg were randomly divided into 4 groups with 3 replicates per group and 5 pigs per replicate by single-factor completely random design. Pigs in the 4 groups were fed the experimental diets containing 1.20% soybean oil (control group), 0.80% soybean oil+0.40% safflower oil (0.40% safflower oil group), 0.40% soybean oil+0.80% safflower oil (0.80% safflower oil group) and 1.20% safflower oil (1.20% safflower oil group), respectively. The experimental period lasted for 70 days. The results showed as follows:1) compared with control group, the average daily gain of fattening pigs in all safflower oil supplemental groups had a increasing tendency, and the average daily feed intake and the ratio of feed to gain had a decreasing tendency, but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). 2) Compared with control group, the content of total cholesterol of longissimus dorsi of fattening pigs in 0.80% and 1.20% safflower oil groups was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the content of low density lipoprotein of longissimus dorsi in 0.80% safflower oil group was extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01). 3) Compared with control group, the contents of palmitic acid, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, linolenic acid and essential fatty acids of longissimus dorsi of fattening pigs in all safflower oil supplemental groups had a increasing tendency, but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). In conclusion, dietary safflower oil can improve the growth performance and lipid metabolism of fattening pigs, and increase the content of unsaturated fatty acids of muscle.