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[Objective] We aimed to improve the quality of flue-cured tobacco with K326 upper leaves and explore the optimal tobacco baking process in Chongqing tobacco-producing region. [Method] Four different baking processes (endogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique, exogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique, three-stage flue-curing process, three-stage and six-step fluecuring process) were adopted in this research to investigate the effects of different baking processes on carotenoid content of same-maturity degree upper leaves of the flue-cured tobacco K326. [Result] The results showed at the yellowing and color fixing stages, the carotenoids were most fully decomposed in endogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique. The decomposed carotenoid content was lowest in exogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique, for which the carotenoid content was highest (50.53 mg/g). [Conclusion] At the yellowing and color fixing stages, exogenetic force moisture-removing flue-curing technique was most conducive to the carotenoid accumulation in tobacco baking process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]