In traditional Chinese Carboniferous zonal schemes, Serpukhovian foraminiferal zones were broadly defined by genera, long-ranging species or local species, making it difficult to correlate to equivalent foraminiferal zones worldwide. The Serpukhovian Hezhou Formation at the Fenghuangshan section on the Lower Yangtze Platform was deposited in an open to restricted shallow-water environment, in which foraminifers flourished. Four foraminiferal zones named for cosmopolitan species found in this formation are established. In ascending order, they are the Plectomillerella tortula Zone, Eostaffellina paraprotvae Zone, Bradyina cribrostomata Zone and Monotaxinoides transitorius Zone. These zones permit reasonable correlation of the regional Chinese Dewuan (Serpukhovian) Stage to regional Russian substages (Tarussian, Steshevian, Protvian and Zapaltjubian). Preliminary correlations are also proposed between the Dewuan Stage and western European regional Mississippian substages (late Brigantian, Pendleian and Arnsbergian) and Chesterian formations of the type Mississippian region in North America. Copyright (c) 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.