The wolframite series may contain relatively high U and low common Pb contents,  and thus has been used for direct U-Pb dating of hydrothermal W mineralization. In   this paper, we present in-situ laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass   spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) analysis of U–Pb isotopes and trace elements of   wolframite crystals from the giant Yaogangxian and Piaotang W deposits in the extensive Nanling metallogenic belt, South China. The objective of this work is to directly constrain the timing of hydrothermal W mineralization in these two deposits. Wolframite crystals from both deposits show textural evidence for two generations.   Early wolframite (Wol-1) has higher Fe and lower Mn contents relative to those in the  late wolframite (Wol-2). Uranium is correlated positively with Nb5+, tetravalent (Ti,  Sn, Zr, Hf), and trivalent (Sc, V, Y, REEs) cations in all wolframite samples,   suggesting that the incorporation of U into wolframite is controlled by the coupled   substitution mechanisms. The early and late wolframite domains from the Yaogangxian deposit yielded U–Pb ages of 159.1 ± 2.0 Ma (2σ; MSWD = 0.7) and   153.7 ± 0.7 Ma (2σ; MSWD = 0.5), respectively. Similarly, two wolframite   generations from the Piaotang deposits yielded U–Pb ages of 159.5 ± 1.3 Ma (2σ;   MSWD = 0.3) and 152.1 ± 0.9 Ma (2σ; MSWD = 0.5). The obtained U–Pb ages   confirm two successive episodes of hydrothermal W mineralization at ~159 Ma and   153 Ma in the Yaogangxian and Piaotang deposits. This study demonstrates the   potential of U–Pb dating of wolframite by LA-ICPMS and highlights its importance   for directly dating hydrothermal ore-forming processes.