Inoculum size (1.5-6.0 g dry weight/l) significantly affected cell growth and accumulation of intracellular and extracellular taxol in Taxus chinensis. A shorter cultivation time and a higher biomass productivity were achieved using inoculum size of 6.0 g DW/I. Both the intracellular content and total production of taxol were increased almost 30% with an increase of inoculum size from 1.5 to 3.0 g DW/I, while an even higher inoculum size decreased taxol formation. The extracellular taxol concentration was relatively higher (0.091 mg/l) at low inoculum sizes of 1.5 and 2.0 g DW/I; and in various cases it was less than 25% of the total amount of taxol produced.