The production of paclitaxel from suspension culture of Taxus chinensis var. mairei was improved by in situ extraction with organic solvents to avoid feedback repression and product degradation. Oleic acid and dibutyl phthalate were proved to be suitable solvents. The optimal volumetric percentage of organic solvents in the culture medium was found to be around 8%, and the favorable time for their introduction was at the exponential phase of cell growth. Paclitaxel production with the in situ extraction was ca 3-fold of that without extraction.