By using the standard litter-bag method, an experiment was conducted to study the decomposition rate and the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) release processes of leaf litters derived from Pinus massoniana, Alnus cremastogyne, Schima superba, and Cycloblanopsis glauca in a 21-year-Cunninghamia lanceolata forest. By the end of the experiment (13 months incubation), C. glauca litter had the highest decomposition rate, with 33.5% of mass loss, followed by A. cremastogyne and S. superba, and P. massoniana had the lowest decomposition rate, with 29.9% of mass loss. The time for 50% and 95% of the mass loss of the litters from the four tree species ranged from 21 to 26 months and from 94 to 112 months, respectively. During the decomposition, the N concentration in A. cremastogyne litter decreased, whereas that in the other tree species litters increased. The P concentration in the litters decreased rapidly at the first three months of decomposition, and then varied insignificantly. During litter decomposition, the ratio of carbon (C) to N decreased, while the ratio of C to P increased. C. glauca, A. cremastogyne, and S. superba litters had net N release, but P. massoniana litter had N sequestration. In terms of P, the litters from the four tree species had net release during decaying. Among the four tree species, A. cremastogyne was more appropriate to be mixed planted with C. lanceolata.