Abstract: Through parallel trials, the growth characteristics for seedlings of Cyclobalanopsis glaucoides and Castanopsis orthacantha grown in three different soils were studied. The results showed that：the growth of C. glaucoides and C. orthacantha were significantly different between acidic soil and red calcareous soil after a growth season. The increment of height, stem basal diameter and leaves of C. glaucoides and C. orthacantha were significant in acidic soil comparing to those in red calcareous soil. Seedlings of two species all grew better in black calcareous soil. The RMF of C. glaucoides in black calcareous soil were higher than those in acidic soil and red calcareous soil, then the R/C increased notably in black calcareous soil while the LMF decreased. In three different soils, the R/C, RMF and LMF of C. orthacantha were all of no significant difference. The content of chlorophyll and chlorophyll a/b of C. glaucoides had no obvious difference in three different soils, but the content of carotenoid in black calcareous soil and red calcareous soil was lower significantly than that in acidic soil. The content of chlorophyll and carotenoid of C. orthacantha seedlings grown in red calcareous soil were notably less than those in black calcareous soil and acidic soil. The chlorophyll a/b in seedlings of C. orthacantha grown in two calcareous soils was significantly higher than those in acidic soil.