The content characteristics of 16 elements (A1,Ca,Cr,Cu,Fe,K,Li,Mg,Mn,Mo,Na,Ni,P,Pb,St,and Zn) in 23 plant species collected from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau permafrost region were investigated using ICP-OES.Results show that the average contents of Ca,K,Mg,Fe and P were higher than 1,000 mg/kg,those of A1,Na,Zn and Cr ranged between 10-1,000 mg/kg and those ofCu,Li,Pb and Mo were less than 10 mg/kg.The levels of A1,Ca,K,Mg andNa were within the scope of the reported terrestrial plant element content,those of Sr,Fe and Cr were higher than the average of the terrestrial plants and the maximum content of Mn was higher than the upper limit of the reported Mn content.The main character of the element content was of the Ca＞K type,however,in terms of Cyperaceae species the element content character was K＞Ca type.The contents of Ca,Li,Mg and Sr in Gramineae and Cyperaceae species were higher than those in other species and the contents of Ca,K,Mg,Fe,P,A1 and Na in all collected plants were higher than those of other elements.Zn had weak variability with the lowest coefficient (i.e.,7.81％),while other elements had strong variability.The ratio of maximum content to minimum content indicated Ca and K had less change than other elements in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau permafrost region.Element content of alpine vegetation in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau permafrost region mainly shows a positive correlation,among which the correlation coefficient between A1 and Pb,A1 and Fe,Mo and Cr,Pb and Fe,Sr and Li were higher than 0.9,and negative correlation had no statistical significance.The correlation between A1 and Fe,Mg,Mn in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau permafrost region were consistent with that reported in Kunlun Mountains.