Catalytic pyrolysis of Chinese Daqing atmospheric residue on a commercial fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) catalyst was investigated in a confined fluidized bed reactor. The results show that the commercial FCC catalyst has good capability of cracking atmospheric residue to light olefins. The analysis of gas samples shows that the content of total light olefins in cracked gas is above 80%. The analysis of liquid samples shows that the content of aromatics in liquid samples ranges from 60% to 80%, and it increases with the enhancement of reaction temperature. The yield of total light olefins shows a maximum with the increase of reaction temperature, the weight ratios of catalyst-to-oil and steam-to-oil, respectively. The optimal reaction temperature, the weight ratios of catalyst-to-oil and steam-to-oil are about 650℃, 15 and 0.75, respectively.