The hydrolysis kinetics of chitin was investigated at 280-366 degrees C in this study. The chitin began to be hydrolyzed at 283 degrees C and the lowest yield of chitin residue was obtained at 362 degrees C. The entire hydrolysis process of chitin was separated into three zones, which could be expressed by Coats-Redfern models. First-order model was the most effective for describing the hydrolysis kinetics of chitin, yielding activation energies of 215.4 kJ mol(-1) in zone 1, 153.7 kJ mol(-1) in zone 2 and 297.4 kJ mol(-1) in zone 3, respectively. The crystalline region and hydrogen bond in chitin could be effectively broken down by subcritical water treatment. The hydrolysis of chitin at 280-366 degrees C was composed of the hydrolysis of chitin at the surface and the destruction of hydrogen and glycosidic bonds in the interior of the chitin.