Although cyclic electron flow (CEF) is essential for repair of PSII, it is unclear whether the CEF is stimulated and what the role of stability of PSI is during the recovery. In order to explore these two questions, mature leaves of Dalbergia odorifera were treated with the chilling temperature of 4°C under a photosynthetic flux density (PFD) of 650 μmol m(-2) s(-1) for 2 h and then were transferred to 25°C under a PFD of 100 μmol m(-2) s(-1) for recovery. The maximum quantum yield of PSII (F(v)/F(m)), the maximum photo-oxidizable P700 (P(m)), the energy distribution in PSII and the redox state of P700 at 25°C under a PFD of 100 μmol m(-2) s(-1) were determined before and after chilling treatment and during subsequent recovery. We found that the CEF was significantly stimulated during the recovery after photodamage. There is a significant positive correlation between stimulation of CEF and photodamage of PSII during recovery. Our results indicated that CEF was significantly stimulated in order to enhance the synthesis of ATP for the fast repair of PSII. The stability of PSI activity favored the fast repair of PSII activity through stimulation of CEF.