A Rayleigh scattering lidar is presented for temperature observation in the mid and upper stratosphere, both principle and process of data analysis are described. Temperature profiles obtained by lidar show the coincident distribution with the NOAA/NMC and MSISE-90 model over the altitudes of 30 to 40 km. Generally, temperature biases between lidar and NOAA/NMC or MSISE-90 model are less than 3 K from 30 km to 40 km altitude, not larger than 6 K at the lower altitudes probably due to the influences of aerosol.