Abstract: 【Objective】Elucidate differences in leaf functional traits of moso bamboo along a gradient of moso bamboo expansion into abandoned land.【Method】 We compared the leaf functional traits of moso bamboo at different stages of expansion, and explored the adaptability and survival strategy during expansion. 【Result】The specific leaf area(SLA)was highest(2.16 m²/kg)during the middle stage of expansion. The second highest SLA(1.83 m²/kg)was recorded during the final stage of expansion, whereas the lowest SLA(1.80 m²/kg)was recorded during the initial stage of expansion. The leaf dry matter content(LDMC)was different in different stages of expansion for moso bamboo of different age. LDMC of one-year-old moso bamboo decreased with moso bamboo expansion, whereas the LDMC of three and five years old moso was increased. There was no significant difference with regards the leaf carbon content(LC), leaf nitrogen content(LN)and C/N during the different stages of moso bamboo expansion. There was a significant decrease in leaf phosphorus content(LP)with expansion: 1.70 g/kg in the initial stage, 1.53 g/kg in the middle stage, and 1.15 g/kg in the final stage. There was a significant increase in C/P and N/P with expansion: C/P was 264.06, 292.33 and 392.03, and N/P was 12.70, 13.62 and 17.16, in the initial, middle and final stages, respectively. 【Conclusion】That the main leaf functional traits of moso bamboo changed during the course of its expansion into abandoned land, and that there was a trade-off among the leaf functional traits with this expansion. moso bamboo adapts to the disturbed environmental conditions during the initial stage of expansion by decreasing SLA and N/P, and increasing LP. The N/P of moso bamboo increased with its expansion when the forest environment was formed, and the growth of moso bamboo was changed from the N constraints to P constraints. Moreover, the results may reveal that moso bamboo has an obvious advantage in competition because of its uneven age structure and the fact that different-aged bamboo has different trends in leaf functional traits during its expansion.