The method of combining RTK unmanned aerial vehicles, geographic information system, forest resource investigation and collection system with field investigation mainly were adopted to investigate the distribution, population area and quantity changes of Rhododendron shanii in 4 places including Baimajian in Huoshan County, Anhui Province. The results showed that Rhododendron shanii natural populations was mainly distributed in 4 places in the study area: Tianhejian, Baimajian, Duoyunjian and Zhutoujian. Among them, the seedlings of the 3 populations of Tianhejian, Baimajian and Duoyunjian were scarce, and the population of Zhutoujian had less human activity. The seedlings under the forest were evenly distributed. Compared with the population survey results in 2012, the population area of Rhododendron shanii in the study area decreased by 11.1 hm², the number of population plants decreased by 273, the population habitat was damaged to varying degrees, and the signs of population degradation were obvious in 2024. Based on the geographical distribution and forest age structure of this population, protection countermeasures were proposed from aspects such as strengthening population protection, improving forest stand quality, and promoting artificial breeding, providing references for the near-natural protection and restoration of the population of Rhododendron shanii.