Ultra high voltage (UHV) converter transformer valve-side bushings are the key equipment indirect current (DC) transmission projects, and are subjected to high voltage and large current with large number of harmonics simultaneously. The electric field distribution of converter transformer valve-side bushings is time-dependent under DC voltage, polarity reversal voltage and actual voltage waveforms, and the electric and temperature field are coupling with each other in actual operation. The dynamic characteristics of the surface charges and the electric field distribution of China's first � 1100 kV epoxy/paper -SF 6 composite insulation converter trans former valve-side bushing under 2 h DC withstand test voltage and polarity reversal voltage were analysed considering the natural ionisation, drifting, diffusion and recombination processes of positive and negative ions in SF 6 gas and air. The time-dependent electro-thermal coupling field of the bushing under the actual voltage waveform in one cycle was obtained. The rationality of the simulation method adopted was verified through type tests of the UHV converter transformer valve-side bushing. The simulation results of the paper can provide a theoretical foundation for the design of converter transformer valveside bushings and it is of great significance to ensure the safe operation of converter stations. Index Terms -UHV converter transformer valve-side bushings, time-dependent, polarity reversal (PR) voltage, actual voltage waveform, electro-thermal coupling field, type tests.This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.