To explore the differences of species functional groups and diversity of alpine meadow communities on different slopes in the eastern margin of Qilian, we investigated the characteristics of vegetation (height, coverage and frequency) on seven slopes (north slope, northwest slope, west slope, east slope, northeast slope, southwest slope, and south slope), determined soil factors, species evenness and diversity index and their correlation. The results showed that: (1) There were 21 families, 18 genera and 21 species in the study area, mainly Leguminosae (4 genera and 4 species), Compositae (3 genera and 3 species), Rosaceae (1 genus and 3 species), Cyperaceae (2 genera and 2 species), Gramineae (2 genera and 2 species) and Polygonaceae (1 genus and 2 species). The trend of plant families and genera are similar to species in different slopes, all of which are northeast, southwest and north slopes (76.19%) > south slope (66.67%) > east slope (61.90%) > west slope, northwest slope (19.05%). (2) The composition of grassland communities is different in different slopes, among which the east, south and northeast slopes are mainly herbaceous plants, the southwest and north slopes are herbaceous and shrub interlaced plant, and the west and northwest slopes are mainly shrubs plant. (3) The functional groups are different in different slopes. The important values of sedges on the east, south, north, south and southwest slopes are the highest, while the west and north slopes are only legumes and forbs, which has the highest value. (4) There are different dominant functional groups in different slopes. Important values of gramineous plants were as follows: shady slope (northeast slope) > sunny slope (south slope and southwest slope) > semisunny slope (east slope); for leguminous plants: sunny slope (south slope) > shady slope (north slope, northwest slope and northeast slope) > semisunny slope (east slope) > semishady slope (west slope); for forbs: semishady slope (west slope) > shady slope (north and northeast slope) > semisunny slope (east slope) > sunny slope (southwest slope and south slope). (5) With the change of slope gradient, the change of species richness and the ShannonWiener diversity index are consistent, which are represented as: shady slope > sunny slope > semisun slope > semishady slope. (6) Redundancy analysis showed that soil water content and C∶N are important factors affecting the important values of shrub plants (Daphne odora, Potentilla fruticosa and Rhododendron capitatum). These results suggest that changes in soil moisture, nutrients and light of different slope orientation have significantly affected the species functional groups and their diversity in alpine meadow vegetation communities.