With a physically based empirical temperature model with DEM data of 1∶250 000 scale and routine meteorological data from 51 stations in and around Chongqing municipality from 1961-2000, we generated the spatial distribution map with resolution of 100 m ×100 m of monthly mean air temperature of rugged terrain of Chongqing municipality. The model gives an overall consideration of terrain (altitude, slope, aspect, terrain-shielding), solar radiation and effective radiation effects on temperature. Analyses show that the simulation results can well reflect the macro and local temperature distribution characteristics and the maximum mean absolute bias error is 0.40℃ for monthly temperature simulation and the annual average error is 0.21℃. Tests carried by cross-validation, case year data and field investigation data indicate that the annual average error of cross-validation is 0.26℃, case year test is 0.30℃ and the overall monthly average error of field investigation is less than 1.0℃.