The microwave-vacuum drying characteristics of Dioscorea opposita Thunb under different parameters such as shapes, blanching conditions, microwave power density, vacuum degree, rotating speed, temperature and slice thickness were studied, and the drying kinetic model was established. The results showed that the slicing methods, microwave power density, vacuum degree, temperature and slice thickness had great influences on the drying rate of Dioscorea opposita Thunb. Nonlinear regression fitting of six drying models under different vacuum were carried out and the model parameters were determined. The results showed that the Page model had higher coefficient of determination(R2)and lower residual sum of squares(RSS), and P<0.01, which indicated that the model could accurately describe and predict the moisture dynamics of Dioscorea opposita Thunb during microwave-vacuum drying process.