This study understand the characteristics of soil seed bank in natural forest community dominated by Picea purpurea in Taohe National Nature Reserve Dayu forest regions (TH), Yeliguan forest regions (YLG) and GahaiZecha National Nature Reserve Zecha forest regions (GZ), Gansu Province, which revealed the characteristics of soil seed bank and its relationship with aboveground vegetation in P. purpurea community of Taohe River upstream. It provided basis for recovery and management of community of P. purpurea. The results showed that: (1) there were 50 species of soil seed bank in the 3 forest regions, which belonged to 45 genera and 27 families, the density of soil seed bank ranged from 958 to 1 129 ind/m², herbaceous plants composed the majority of the soil seed bank. (2) It was obvious of the vertical structure of soil seed banks, presenting species and density decreased with the increase of soil depth. (3) It showed that species of aboveground vegetation were more than soil seed bank, similarity coefficient between 0.15 and 0.23, which had extreme dissimilarity; Margalef richness index, ShannonWiener diversity index, Simpson dominance index of soil seed bank were lower than that of aboveground vegetation, but Pielou evenness index was higher. All in all, this study indicated that the soil seed bank in P. purpurea community of Taohe River upstream consisted largely of herbaceous plant. Thus, arbors and shrubs had smaller reserves, especially P. purpurea that was the constructive species. The contribution was lower between aboveground vegetation and soil seed bank, this implied that it was far from being able to alleviate the degradation of P. purpurea forest only by natural restoration of soil seed bank. Therefore, artificial seedling and afforestation measures will be needed to promote the regeneration and development of P. purpurea forest.