A procedure for regenerating Zizyphus jujuba Mill. (Chinese date) plants through repetitive somatic embryogenesis (RSE) was developed. Primary somatic embryos were produced from cotyledon-derived cultures of germinated plants in vitro. The highest induction frequency of primary somatic embryogenesis (PSE) was obtained with a combination of 4.52 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 0.49 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and 0.44 μM benzyladenine (BA) (17.4%). These primary somatic embryos were multiplied by RSE on media with different plant growth regulator (PGR) combinations. The highest RSE frequency (51.3%) was obtained with 0.58 μM gibberellic acid (GA₃). However, the highest number (4.4 per primary somatic embryo) of repetitive somatic embryos was obtained with 0.98 μM 6-r-r-dimethylallylaminopurine (2-iP). For germination of somatic embryos, different PGRs, cold and desiccation treatments were tested. Desiccation of somatic embryos at 25 ± 1°C for 2 wk was the best treatment for germination with epicotyl elongation and root development. Of over 256 plants regenerated, 237 (92.6%) survived.