On the basis of instrumental precipitation dataset from 1961 to 2010 in Fuzhou, the features of precipitation variations in March-July were analyzed. Together with the Yu-Xue-Fen-Cun records during Qing dynasty, we defined several parameters to indentify the pre-summer rainy season in Fuzhou. And then, the method of reconstructing the starting date of the pre-summer rainy season in Fuzhou was introduced according to the contents and recording types of the Yu-Xue-Fen-Cun archive. In addition, in terms of the parameters of precipitation characteristics, including daily precipitation amount, with unit of Fen and Cun, date of rainfall and intensity, the number of rainy days and the descriptive rainfall conditions, we established the criteria on quantitative identifications of sharp increase in rainfall intensity and less rainy season. Our method not only was useful for solving the difficulty to identify the starting date of pre-summer rainy season for lack of daily records during the period, but also provided a new approach for long-term pre-summer rainy season series reconstruction during the past 300 years in South China. Although uncertainties exist in our reconstruction due to the changed observers, semiobjective method and missing precipitation information for some years, they did not change the main characteristics of pre-summer rainy season at decadal time scale.