The study aimed to utilize the superior traits of Kirin chicken （a newly identified national genetic resource） and explore the heterosis mechanism of its cross with the local excellent Huaixiang chicken， this study compared the key production performance and muscle quality among Huaixiang chicken， Kirin chicken， and their reciprocal cross offspring， aiming to provide a basis for parental matching in high-quality broiler breeding in tropical and subtropical regions. Huaixiang chickens （strain A， strain C） and Kirin chickens （fast yellow-feather， slow yellow-feather） were used for a complete diallel cross experiment， with 4 mating combinations （Huaixiang purebred group， Kirin purebred group， orthogonal group， reverse-cross group）. Each group had 6 replicates （20 1-day-old healthy chicks per replicate， half male and half female， birth weight error within ±10% SD）， and relevant indicators were measured after 16 weeks of feeding. At 16 weeks of age， the average weight of cocks was reverse-cross chicken （1 790.69 g） > orthogonal chicken （1 761.67 g） > Kirin chicken （1 733.78 g） > Huaixiang chicken （1 582.63 g） with significant differences （P<0.05）， while no significant difference was found in hens （P>0.05）； the maximum growth rate of Huaixiang chicken appeared at 8 weeks， Kirin chicken at 12 weeks， hybrid cocks at 14 weeks， and hybrid hens at 8 weeks； Huaixiang chicken had higher moisture content in breast and leg muscles， and the crude fat content in leg muscles of reverse-cross cocks was significantly higher than that of Huaixiang and orthogonal cocks （P<0.05）； Kirin chicken had significantly smaller muscle fiber diameter and density in breast and leg muscles than the other 3 groups （P<0.05）； there were extremely significant correlations between indicators such as breast muscle moisture and muscle fiber density， crude protein and crude fat （P<0.01）. The hybrid offspring of Kirin and Huaixiang chickens showed excellent growth performance and obvious heterosis， with reverse-cross combinations outperforming orthogonal ones， providing a scientific reference for screening high-quality chicken matching combinations in tropical regions.