[Objective] The changes in soil physical and chemical properties under different alpine vegetation in the Eastern Qilian Mountains were explored to provide a theoretical basis for the rational utilization of regional water resources.[Methods] The basic soil properties, soil water holding capacity, and soil permeability of different alpine vegetation types were studied.[Results] ① The soil bulk density in the Eastern section of the Qilian Mountains increased with the increase in soil depth, while the soil water content decreased with the increase in soil depth. ② The total soil porosity in the Eastern Qilian Mountains decreased with the increase in soil depth, and the capillary pores and noncapillary pores had no obvious vertical variation. ③ The maximum soil water holding capacity gradually increased as the depth of the soil layer increased. The soil capillary water holding capacity showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing. The soil noncapillary water holding capacity had a slightly different pattern. ④ The initial soil infiltration rate (0.58 to 2.81 mm/min) in the eastern section of the Qilian Mountains was higher than the average permeability (0.05 to 1.26 mm/min) and steady infiltration rate (0.04 to 1.31 mm/min). The initial soil infiltration performance of six alpine vegetations was alpine meadow > Salix oritrepha > Salix sclerophylla > Spiraea salicifolia > Rhododendron thymifolium > Potentilla fruticosa > Rhododendron capitatum. The average permeability was S. salicifolia > P. fruticosa > R. thymifolium > S. oritrepha > S. sclerophylla > Alpine meadow > R. capitatum. The steady infiltration rate was S. salicifolia > P. fruticosa > R. thymifolium > S. oritrepha > S. sclerophylla > R. capitatum > alpine meadow.[Conclusion] The different types of alpine plant in the study area had different effects on the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil in the area. There was a relationship and interaction between the physical and chemical characteristics of the soil and plants, and the two were interdependent.