A long-term, station-based dataset of rice phenology dynamics in Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River Plain of China from 1981 to 2024

We present a foundational, long-term dataset that delineates the spatiotemporal dynamics of rice phenology across China's primary rice production region, the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain (MLYRP), from 1981 to 2024. Derived from rigorously quality-controlled records of 95 national agrometeorological stations, this dataset provides two unique products: 1) a curated collection of 2,432 high-resolution visualizations generated through kernel density estimation and linear regression, depicting the probability distribution and trends of 11 phenological stages and 3 growth phase lengths; and 2) a systematically organized, machine-readable Excel spreadsheet that provides the complete statistical results of the linear trend analysis (including province, station ID, station name        , crop types, phenology period, slope (variation trends), intercept, R², model mean square, F-value, and p-value) for each station and variable. This dataset establishes a critical, and previously unavailable, benchmark for detecting and attributing climate impacts on rice systems, with the machine-readable statistical data offering a transformative resource for reuse. It is specifically designed for immediate reuse, providing ready-to-use inputs for crop model validation, climate-crop meta-analyses, and the development of localized adaptation strategies.