Residence times of ecosystem carbon (τ_e,C), nitrogen (τ_e,N) and phosphorus (τ_e,P) are closely related to efficacies of carbon and nutrients conservation within an ecosystem. However, estimates of τ_e,C, τ_e,N and τ_e,P together are very limited for forest ecosystems, and little is known about the environmental controls. Here we estimated τ_e,C, τ_e,N and τ_e,P of 127 undisturbed forests based on observed carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus stocks and compiled 30 key variables related to climate, vegetation, soil and terrain for the sites. We then performed a variation partitioning analysis to identify dominant controls on τ_e,C, τ_e,N and τ_e,P, and used segmented regression to identify possible thresholds in the dependence of τ_e,C, τ_e,N and τ_e,P on temperature. Climate, particularly average minimum temperature of the coldest month of a year (T_min), was the main driver of τ_e,C, τ_e,N and τ_e,P. In regions with T_min < 0 °C, τ_e,C and τ_e,P decreased with increasing T_min; and in regions with T_min > 0 °C, both τ_e,C and τ_e,P increased with increasing T_min, as a result of a significant increase in total ecosystem carbon pool and a decrease in external phosphorus input, respectively. Our results challenge the use of a single temperature-dependent function of ecosystem carbon or nutrient turnover rate in global land models, and highlight the importance of other factors, such as soil weathering stage, clay content, in influencing the responses of carbon and nutrients cycles in subtropical forests to global warming.