Abstract: The influence of tourist disturbance on plant communities and soil properties in Chaya Mountain scenic area is assessed through comparing the conditions among the different distances of 0,5,10,20 m away from the tourist trail where the intensities of tourist disturbance are distinct.The results are as follows:the tourist disturbance significantly increases the soil pH within 10 m in diameter from the trail and increases the soil bulk density on the edge of the trail.However,the tourist disturbance significantly reduces soil organic matter and total nitrogen content within 5 m in diameter from the trail.The tourist disturbance significantly decreases the amount of the tree seedlings on the edge of the trails and significantly decreases the shrub cover in the nearby 5 m in diameter from the trail.The negative impact of the tourist disturbance on heights of herbaceous plants are mainly concentrated in the region within 5 m in diameter from the trail,and the changes of herbaceous plant diversity differs in different regions,and in the high altitude area tourist disturbance significantly increases the herbaceous plant diversity on the edge of the trail.But in the low altitude region,the influence of the tourist disturbance to the diversity of herbaceous plants is smaller.