Abstract: By the methods of field survey and laboratory soaking extraction, an investigation was conducted on the accumulation amount, water-holding capacity, water-holding rate, and water-absorption rate of the litters under six main forests (Picea wilsonii forest,P. wilsonii -  Betula platyphlla forest, Populus davidiana - B. platyphlla forest, Cotonester multiglorus - Rosa xanthina shrubs, Pinus tabulaeformis forest, and Larix principis-rupprechtii forest) in Xinglong Mountain of Gansu. The accumulation amount of the litters under the forests was 13.40-46.32 t·hm^-2, and in the order of P. tabulaeformis forest > P. wilsonii - B. platyphlla  forest ＞L. principis-rupprechtii forest ＞ P. wilsonii forest ＞C. multiglorus-R. xanthina shrubs ＞P. davidiana -B. platyphlla  forest. The litter storage of coniferous forests was greater than that of broadleaved forests, and the storage percentage of semi-decomposed litters was all higher than that of un-decomposed litters. The maximum water-holding rate of the litters was 185.5%-303.6%, being the highest for L. principis-rupprechtii forest and the lowest for P. tabulaeformis forest. The litters’ water-holding capacity changed logarithmically with their soaking time. For coniferous forests, un-decomposed litters had a lower water-holding rate than semi-decomposed litters; whereas for broadleaved forests, it was in adverse. The maximum water-holding capacity of the litters varied from 3.94 mm to 8.59 mm, and was in the order of P. tabulaeformis forest ＞L. principis-rupprechtii forest ＞P. wilsonii - B. platyphlla  forest ＞P. wilsonii forest ＞C. multiglorus - R. xanthina shrubs ＞P. davidiana - B. platyphlla  forest. The litters’ water-holding capacity also changed logarithmically with immersing time, and the half-decomposed litters had a larger water-holding capacity than un-decomposed litters. The water-absorption rate of the litters presented a power function with immersing time. Within the first one hour of immersed in water, the water-absorption rate of the litters declined linearly; after the first one hour, the litters’ water-absorption rate became smaller, and changed slowly at different immersed stages. Semi-decomposed litters had a higher water-absorption rate than un-decomposed litters. The effective retaining amount (depth) of the litters was in the order of P. wilsonii -B. platyphlla  forest (5.97 mm)＞P. tabulaeformis forest (5.59 mm) ＞L. principis-rupprechtii forest (5.46 mm)＞P. wilsonii forest (4.30 mm) ＞C. multiglorus - R. xanthina shrubs (3.03 mm)＞P. davidiana - B. platyphlla  forest (2.13 mm).