Abstract: Ardisia violacea is one of the rare and endangered species, and distributes only in Zhejiang and Taiwan Provinces in China. In order to understand the light requirement and adaptability of A. violacea, the effects of different light intensities (shading rate of 90%, 60%, 25%, and the full light) on leaf photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence of A. violacea were studied. The photosynthetic rate (P_n) and stomatal conductance (g_s) of A. violacea varied as a bimodal curve with a ‘midday depression’ phenomenon in full bright light, and as a unimodal curve in the shading treatments. With the increasing shading rate, the P_n and apparent quantum efficiency (AQY) first increased, and then decreased, the light compensation point (LCP) and light saturation point (LSP) decreased,  and the g_s, transpiration rate (T_r), original light energy conversion (F_v/F_m) and potential activity of PSⅡ (F_v/F_o) increased. The total quantity of chlorophyll and the carotenoid (Car) content increased, and Chl a/b decreased under shading conditions. When the shading rate was 25%, the specific leaf mass (LMA) and root to shoot (R/T) ratio of A. violacea reached the maximum. A. violacea possessed a strong flexibility to different light environments, suggesting that light could not be the main limiting factor for natural regeneration of A. violacea populations.