[Objective] To explore the response of Carpinus betulus to salt stress and its salt tolerance. [Methods] Using two year seedlings of C. betulus as experimental material, the growth, physiological and biochemical responses of C. Betulus were studied under different concentrations of NaCl(0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, 0.5%). [Results] (1) With salt stress increasing, the damage of plant gradually increased, relative height, and relative diameter and dry weight tended to decline, but root/shoot ratio was increased. (2) Relative water content decreased as salt stress increasing, and the ranges were greater as the salt degrees became higher. (3) The variation trends of total chlorophyll content, SOD activities, POD activities, soluble sugar content and soluble protein content were increased at first then decreased. (4) With the period of salt stress continued, MDA content, relative conductivity and proline content increased, and reached a maximum at last. [Conclusion] C. betulus seedings can improve the characteristics of resistance to salt stress by increasing the activities of protective enzyme system and osmotic adjustment substance under NaCl concentration of 0.1%~0.2%, but its self-regulation ability will be affected under 0.3% NaCl concentration, severe salt stress(0.4%~0.5%) will cause serious damage to the plants. It indicated that C. betulus is vulnerable to salt conditions, and it can not grow well in coastal areas.