An anisotropic aromatic polyamide dope comprising more than 10% by weight of an aromatic polyamide and a solvent for the polyamide, said polyamide consisting essentially of, at least 5 mole% but less than 35 moles%, based on its entire units, of an only partially p-oriented structural unit expressed by the following formula ##STR1## wherein Ar.sup.1 is a divalent aromatic ring whose chain-extending bonds are coaxial or parallel, X is a member selected from the group consisting of O, S and NH, and the NH group bonded to the benzene ring of the above benzoxazole, benzothiazole or benzimidazole ring is meta or para to the carbon atom of said benzene ring.