[Objective] To clarify the water holding capacity of forest litters of 5 different forest types (Cupressus funebris, Pinus armandii+Cunninghamia lanceolata, Cyclobalanopsis glauca+ Pinus yunnanensis, Eucalyptus robusta, C. lanceolata) in Feibai reservoir area in Mengzi City of Yunan Province in order to provide theoretical basis for constructing the forest of water and soil conservation, and for constructing the forest of conservation of water supply in the study area. [Methods] We used the quadrat sampling method, oven drying method and soaking method to determine the litter preservation, water holding capacity, water absorption rate and water interception. [Results] The litter amount in different forests followed an order of C. lanceolata(9.48 t/hm²)> P. armandii+ C. lanceolata(7.09 t/hm²)> C. funebris(7.02 t/hm²)> C. glauca+ P. yunnanensis(6.13 t/hm²)> E. robusta(3.20 t/hm²);The maximum water holding volume of different forests litters ranged from 7.85 to 13.91 t/hm², the maximum water holding rate ranged from 165.85% to 242.45%, and the maximum interception amount and the effective interception amount ranged from 7.48 to 12.62 t/hm² and 6.53 to 11.03 t/hm² respectively. The relationships between water-holding rate and immersion time in 5 different forest types were significantly fitted by logarithmic equation. The relationships between water absorption speed rate and soaking time could be described by power function. [Conclusion] The comprehensive analysis of water holding capacity of 5 different species indicated that Eucalyptus has a higher water-holding capacity and is more beneficial to the water conservation.