To　make　full　use　of　the　temporal　correlation　of　video　sequences,　H.264/AVC　adopts　multiple　reference　frames　to　enhance　the　coding　quality.　While　the　performance　being　improved,　the　complexity　of　computation　has　been　increased　linearly,　too.　In　this　paper,　we　study　motion　characteristic　of　video　sequences　and　spatial　correlation　in　video　frames　first,　and　then　we　propose　an　adaptive　fast　multiple　reference　frames　selection　algorithm.　It　can　decrease　the　number　of　reference　frames　for　motion　compensation,　and　reduce　the　complexity　of　coding　adaptively　according　to　the　features　of　video　sequences.　The　results　show　that　our　algorithm　achieves　45%　coding　time　saving　on　average　with　unnoticeable　quality　loss.　©2008　IEEE.