[Objective] To explore impacts of tourism disturbance on biological diversity and soil properties of typical steppe in Helan Mountain scenic area in order to further understand the ecological effect and mechanism of tourism disturbance, and to provide the reference for the protection of scenic resources and environment management. [Methods] Sample investigation was conducted to different intensity of tourism disturbance (LD, lower tourism disturbance; MD, middle tourism disturbance; HD, high tourism disturbance) on biological diversity and soil properties in Helan Mountain scenic areas. [Results] (1) Tourism disturbance significantly reduced the vegetation coverage, litters, and the index of diversity, richness and evenness(p<0.05). (2) Tourism disturbance had a large influence on soil physical and chemical properties, as the interference intensity increasing, soil bulk density increased, and water content, electrical conductivity decreased. (3) Soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen had a larger range ability which was the most sensitive to tourism disturbance. (4) There was a marked effect on soil nutrients, soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolyzale nitrogen, microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen were significantly reduced with the interference intensity increasing, potassium and available potassium increased; (5) The basic correlation of soil nutrients factors of tourism disturbance was consistent with CK, on the whole, the total soil nutrient was significantly positive correlation to the soil available nutrients(p<0.01). [Conclusion] Moderate tourism disturbance had no effect on vegetation properties. Tourism disturbance had effects on soil properties, and the effects did not change the interactions of soil nutrient factors.