The diversity of wild medicinal plants on Shegyla Mountains was investigated based on sample plots, field collections and literatures, which provides scientific basis for the protection, utilization and systematic research of wild medicinal plant resources in the area. The results showed that: (1) there were 647 wild medicinal plants, belong to 350 genera and 104 families, 22 of which from 15 genera and 13 families were ferns, and 9 of which from 3 genera and 2 families were gymnosperms, 616 plants species from 332 genera and 89 families belonged to angiosperms. From the life history of the wild medicinal plants, 478 of them were herbs and 169 of them were woody plants, accounting for 73.88% and 26.12%, respectively. The proportion of total herb used for traditional medicine was 46.21%, and that of roots and rhizomes was 30.14%. (2) At familys level, families including less than 5 wild medicinal plants accounted for 72.11%, which was far more than the proportions of families including more than 5 wild medicinal plants, but the total number of these plant species was only 22.57% of the total number of wild medicinal plants on Shegyla Mountains. In contrast, families including more than 7 plant species accounted for 6.73% of the total number of families, but 255 the wild medicinal plants were included in these families and accounted for 39.41%, which played an important role in the components of wild medicinal plants on Shegyla Mountains. (3) On genus level, those including 1 species accounted for the 64.00% of the total number of genus, which suggested a high diversity of medicinal on genus level since no genus including most of the medicinal plant species was found. (4) On functional diversity, clearing heat was found in the 260 medicinal plant species, accounting for the 40.19% of the total number of wild medicinal plants. (5) About 360 plants, belonging to 249 genera and 83 families, were found to be ethnobotanical uses. Among these plant species, 235 accounting for 65.28%, were used by Tibetan. Collectively, this research suggested a high level of diversity of medicinal plant species on Shegyla Mountains, which was demonstrated by the diversified life histories, medical parts, medical function, and ethnobotanical uses. Some of the rare and endangered resources of individual small quantity, such as Rhodiola yunnanensis, Gastrodia elata and Dysosma tsayuensis, etc. recommended the establishment of special protection areas, strengthen the protection of wild medicinal plant resources and its original habitat, and strengthen the artificial breeding research, making reasonable plucking and utilization in view of resource reserves, as to achieve sustainable development of wild medicinal plant resources.