Abstract: By studying the Patrick index(R)、Shannon-Wiener index(H)、Pielou index(E) of plant communities in different altitude in Shunhuang Mountain, Hunan, we reached the following results: (1)From the altitude of 400 m to 600 m, R and H were followed the order as tree layer＞shrub layer＞herb layer(P＜0.05) and E as shrub layer＞(tree layer≈herb layer)(P＜0.05), from the altitude of 600 m to 1500 m, R、H were followed the order as shrub layer＞(tree layer≈herb layer)(P＜0.05) and E as tree layer＞(shrub layer≈herb layer)(P＜0.05); (2)In the same plant layer, (tree layer)[(400～600 m)(R, H)]＞[(600～1500 m)(R, H)](P＜0.05),the verse as E, (shrub layer)[(1000～1500 m)(R, H)]＞[(600～1000 m)(R, H)]＞[(400～600 m)(R, H)](P＜0.05), (shrub layer)[(400～600 m)(E)]＞[(600～1500 m)(E)](P＜0.05), (herb layer)[(600～1000 m)(R, E)]＞[(400～600 m or 1000～1500 m)(R,E)](P＜0.05), (herb layer)[(600～1000 m)(E)]＞[(1000～1500 m)(E)]＞[(400～600 m)(E)](P＜0.05)。All in all, The heterogeneity of habitats in different altitude was the root cause of the difference of plant communities in different sampling sites.