[Objective] The objective of this study is to investigate the water-holding capacity of litter and soil and to provide support for planning and planting soil and water conservation forests in Taihang Mountains. [Methods] Drying method, indoor soaking and cutting ring method were used to determine the water holding capacity by litter and soil in different kinds of forest stands. [Results] The total storage by litter ranged from 9.96 t/hm² to 19.19 t/hm². The maximum water-holding volume of different forests was about 23.76 t/hm² to 66.72 t/hm², the order was Quercus variabilis and Platycladus orientalis mixed forest >Q. variabilis forest >Robinia pseudoacacia forest> controlled forestland. The maximum effective retaining water of litter occured in Q. variabilis and P. orientalis mixed forest while the minimum in controlled forestland. The water-holding capacity of litters and immersion time had visible logarithmic relationship(R>0.97), whereas the litter absorption rate and immersion time followed an exponential relationship(R>0.98). Soil bulk desity was about 1.14 g/cm³ to 1.55 g/cm³, the total porosity ranged from 38.62% to 43.76%. The order of effective water-holding capacity of soil in these forests was R. pseudoacacia forest>Q. variabilis and P. orientalis mixed forest>Q. variabilis forest>controlled forestland( maximum in R. pseudoacacia 106.85 t/hm², while minimum in controlled forest land 89.37 t/hm²). [Conclusion] The water holding capacity of forest lands was much better than controlled forestland.