The primary dendrite morphology and spacing of DZ125 superalloy have been observed during directional solidification under high thermal gradient about 500 K/cm. The results reveal that the primary dendrite arm spacing decreases from 94 μm to 35.8 μm with the increase of directional solidification cooling rate from 2.525 K/s to 36.4 K/s. The regression equation of the primary dendrite arm spacings λ1 versus cooling rate is λ1=0.013(GV)-0.32. The predictions of Kurz/Fisher model and Hunt/Lu model accord reasonably well with the experimental data. The influence of directional solidification rate under variable thermal gradient on the primary dendrite arm spacing has also been investigated.